St. Xavier High School’s baseball squad captured the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I regional championship on Tuesday, edging Oak Hills 6‑5 in a contest that swung back and forth until the final outs.
A Comeback for the Ages
Oak Hills surged in the fifth inning, tying the game with RBI singles from Will Kraus, Dax Redmon and Logan Schreiber. The Bombers answered with a rally sparked by Jack Ryan’s first‑inning RBI single and a series of aggressive baserunning moves that kept the pressure on.
Seniors Lead the Turnaround
Coach Don DiGiacomo praised the seniors for buying into the culture and making the turnaround happen after a difficult 2024 season. Dillon Brus, the Bombers’ all‑time leader in steals, said the win meant everything to the team after a season of hard work.
Brus added that the squad’s record‑setting steal total helped fuel their middle‑inning dominance, while Griffin Doxey, Cameron Schaefer and the rest of the senior class contributed consistently both at the plate and in the field.
Clutch Performances Seal the Win
Relief pitcher Sam Vovak closed out the game with a strikeout that halted Oak Hills’ final push. Earlier, Logan Von Holle’s RBI single drove in the first run, and Jackson Sharrard’s sacrifice fly helped push the lead to 6‑5. The Bombers’ sacrifice flies from Sharrard and Von Holle gave them a 6‑5 lead that they defended to the final out.
Looking Ahead to the State Semifinals
St. Xavier will now face Olentangy Orange in the state semifinals at Akron’s 7 17 Credit Union Park on June 11. The team’s confidence is high, with Brus expressing belief in the squad’s abilities heading into the tournament. Coach DiGiacomo noted that the seniors’ leadership has set a standard that the underclassmen are eager to follow.
The victory marks the end of a 20‑year drought for the Bombers and places them two wins away from a state championship. With a blend of veteran poise and youthful energy, St. Xavier aims to translate its regional success into a historic title run.