Big inning and good pitching bring Russia its first OHSAA baseball state title since 1971

AKRON, Ohio – The wait for another baseball state title is over for Russia, as they captured their first championship since 1971 with a 10-4 win over Lincolnview Saturday.

Leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth and knowing Lincolnview had the top of its lineup due up in the seventh, the Raiders broke the game open to ensure they would be hoisting the trophy.

Xavier Phlipot walked with the bases loaded to bring in a run and then Hayden Quinter hit a two-run single into right field to extend the lead to 6-2 to give his coach a little more room to breathe.

“One run lead was nice,” head coach Kevin Phlipot said. “But I wasn’t too confident until Quinter (got the hit) to right. Right then, the mind was starting to wander a little bit.”

But the Raiders weren’t done.

Grant Saunders got an RBI single and then with the bases loaded, Braylon Cordonnier hit a two-run double and then he scored on an RBI single by Aiden Shappie.

“Everybody put the ball in play and that just helps the game move easily,” Cordonnier said.

That was more than enough for starting pitcher Xavier Phlipot. The junior went the distance and held Lincolnview to just two runs in the first six innings before giving up two in the seventh with the big lead. In total, he allowed four runs (three earned) and struck out five.

Lincolnview hit the ball well in the first inning, but diving catches by first baseman Jared Polling and Cordonnier at shortstop kept the Lancers at bay.

“At the beginning of the game I had some nerves, and I didn’t have great command of the strike zone,” Xavier Phlipot said. “But my defense made a couple great plays to help settle me down.”

For the Russia offense, it looked to have its work cut out for it against Lincolnview pitcher Landon Price, the Division IV player of the year in the state. But the Raiders made Price work and were able to put together good at-bats and eventually push across runs against the Ohio State University signee.

“It was the way we battled Price,” coach Phlipot said. “We had seven hits in the first three innings. I don’t think he is used to that. We fouled balls off and we battled.”

Price hit the pitch limit of 125 in the sixth inning and was taken out with the game still 3-2 and two runners on with two outs. That’s when the Raiders offense feasted off the relief pitching of the Lancers and put the game out of reach.

“Once they put up that seven spot that relaxed me whole lot,” Xavier Phlipot said. “I knew I just had to pound the strike zone and let the defense just finish it off for me.”

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