Unioto Final Four Bound With 2-0 Regional Title Win Over Indian Creek

Article Presented By Kingston National Bank…

The Unioto Shermans are headed to the Division 4 State Final Four following a 2-0 win over the Redskins of Indian Creek in the Regional Final at Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium.

It looked as if Indian Creek had a big scoring opportunity in the top of the third inning when Hunter Rusnak singled, followed by a Sylus Hyde single. But, a major base-running mistake by Rusnak as he rounded third base on a base hit cost his team an apparant run scoring play. Unioto appealed that Rusnak missed touching third base as was rounding the bag and was called out by the umpire, to become the second out of the inning. Unioto’s Blake Sanders got the next IC batter to hit into an inning ending ground out to take the Redskins out of a potential scoring inning.

All of Unioto’s offense came in the bottom of the third inning when Caden Cutright was hit by pitch with one out. He then moved to second on a wild pitch, followed by a Jaxson Zickafoose walk. That is when the Shermans magic took over. Jack Welch laid down a sacrifice bunt, with Cutright scoring all the way from second base. With the ensuing Indian Creek throw to third in an effort to cut down Zickafoose moving to that base, a throwing error to third on the same play scored Zickafoose for Unioto’s 2-0 lead.

That score would hold up the rest of the way as the final score. Unioto pitcher Blake Sanders scattered 7 hits over as many innings of shutout baseball.

It was a heartbreaking loss for Indian Creek pitcher Sal Barcalow, who gave up only one hit the entire game. However, he hit a batter and walked another that led to the Shermans scoring inning.

This is the third trip to the OHSAA Baseball State Final Four for Unioto’s baseball program, with other trips in 1983 and 1994. Both years as semifinalists under legendary hall of fame coach Don Neff.

The Shermans advance to play Mentor Lake Catholic, who blanked Canfield 10-0 in (6 innings). They meet at 4pm June 13th at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton.