Hiland rides big momentum shift to 4-1 win over Tiffin Calvert in eight innings in Division IV state semifinals

AKRON, Ohio – Sometimes in baseball, you just need one ball to bounce your way to grab momentum in a game.

That’s exactly what happened for Hiland on Thursday evening in the OHSAA Division IV state semifinals at Canal Park in a 4-1 win over Tiffin Calvert in eight innings.

Trailing 1-0 and headed to the seventh inning, things were looking bleak for the Hawks, who had just four hits through the first six innings.

But Colin Coblantz led off the inning by hitting a ball to Calvert right fielder AJ Shoemaker that the freshman outfielder appeared to catch and then drop on the transfer to his throwing hand, but the first base umpire said it was not a catch and Coblantz was safe at first base.

“(That was) a huge break for us,” Hiland head coach Chris Dages said. “I didn't see it. I wasn't watching when they tried to get the ball, but I'll take it. That's a tough break for them but so good for us.”

After Isaak Yoder moved Coblantz to second with a sacrifice bunt and Brady Yoder struck out, Grady Monigold shot a single right back up the middle to score Coblantz to tie the game.

Despite Hiland tying the game in the top of the seventh, Calvert had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the inning as the Senecas loaded the bases with two outs, but Hiland pitcher Isaak Yoder was able to get out of it by inducing a grounder to first baseman Cameron Moyer to end the inning.

“The biggest thing for me is telling myself to stay calm and not worrying about what's going to happen,” Isaak Yoder said. “I know my defense has my back and all I need to do is throw strikes and today my stuff was good.”

The Hawks struck for three in the top of the eighth inning to break the game open.

Hiland loaded the bases without any outs and Colin Coblantz had an RBI single to give the Hawks their first lead of the game at 2-1. Brady Yoder followed with an RBI sacrifice bunt and Grady Monigold made it 4-1 with a sacrifice fly.

“Our defense kind of got the momentum rolling for us and got our confidence back,” Dages said. “We went to the plate with some good approaches and put the ball in play. That's what we needed to do.”

Isaak Yoder, who took the mound in the sixth inning for Hiland, struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth to finish off the win.

Calvert took an early lead, as Connor Moyer led off the bottom of the second inning with a single and moved to second on a walk by Cameron Moyer. The pair then advanced a base on a passed ball.

Blake Coleman followed up with a grounder to shortstop Alec Weaver, who threw home to cut down Connor Moyer for the first out of the inning. Cash Lee then came in to run for Cameron Moyer, who moved to third on the play.

And then on an 0-2 count, Harry Shultz lifted a fly ball to left field that was caught by Wyatt Miller that scored Lee to make it 1-0.

And then with one play, the momentum switched and Hiland was in control of the game.

Calvert head coach Matt Coleman went out to ask for an explanation on the ball hit to right field to open the seventh inning.

“(The umpire) said something about voluntary transfer,” Coleman said. “I felt like he was throwing it in, and it was a difference of opinion. His opinion matters more than mine.”

While he wasn’t happy with the call, Coleman also didn’t blame that for his team’s loss.

“At the end of the day we had our opportunities,” Coleman said. “We can only control certain things. We can't control that call.”

Hiland will advance to play defending state champion Russia in the Division IV state championship game on Saturday at 1 pm.