On June 2, the Kenston Bombers defeated the NDCL Lions, 4-2, at Thurman Munson Field to claim the OHSSA regional title.
Game photos click here.
On June 2, the Kenston Bombers defeated the NDCL Lions, 4-2, at Thurman Munson Field to claim the OHSSA regional title.
A day after Kenston defeated Gilmour 4-2, Kenston’s Parker Munday and Nikko Georgiou reversed roles.
Just as Munday had done the day before, Georgiou took the mound and pitched a complete game. In seven innings of work, Georgiou scattered nine hits, gave up only one earned run, and struck out six batters.
“Me and Munday want to go back-to-back, stay on the mound as long as possible,” Georgiou said. “He told me before the game, ‘You give me one more start, I’ll get you one more start.’ Just had to come out here and get the job done.”
Added Kenston Head Coach Joe Hritz: “We just lean on them (Georgiou and Munday). They are the rock of this program for right now — all the seniors are.
“They stepped up huge toward the end of the year here, and again we were able to control the game. They set the tone, they calmed us down a little bit, great plate approaches, and we were able to take one.”
Georgiou and Munday also led Kenston at the plate against the Lions and were instrumental in helping the Bombers produce runs.
Over the regional round of the playoffs, Munday went 3-6 and Georgiou went 4-6.
“Today was a great day for us,” Munday said. “It feels good. I got to play the field today instead of pitching, and I am just happy to stay hot and keep it going.
“We came out a little slow, they got the first run on us. But then we gave Nikko a couple of insurance runs and we got back at it.”
In addition to their performance at the plate, the Bombers benefitted from aggressive base-running, which Munday and Georgiou executed to perfection.
Also, the Bombers found ways to get runs across the plate in key situations by putting the ball in play. In particular, junior Bridger Bischof had two key RBIs in this regional final.
NDCL scored first in the top of the first inning. Frankie Clark led off the game with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt and ground-out, moved to third. Clark then scored on a Kenston error.
Kenston would score two runs in the second inning and two runs in the fourth.
In the second inning, the Bombers scored after Matthew Pecoraro drew a walk and was brought home on Georgiou’s triple.
Bischof then brought the second run of the inning home on a ground-out to the first baseman.
In the fourth inning, Kenston scored two more runs after a single by Ohio University commit Jimmy Cehra, a single by Munday, and a double by Georgiou.
After Cehra scored, Bridger Bischof drove Munday in from third base to put the Lions ahead, 4-1.
The Lions added one more run in the sixth. After Spetic singled and stole second, Spetic moved to third on a single by Griffin Moskal. Spetic scored on a base hit by Nick Miller to make the final score 4-2.
NDCL was led offensively by Clark (2-4), Moskal (2-4) and Spetic (2-4).
Kenston will next play June 9 at 10 a.m. in the OHSAA state semifinal game at Canal Park.
