St. Xavier captured its second Ohio Division I baseball state championship on Saturday, defeating longtime rival Moeller 4‑2 in a tightly contested final held in Akron. The victory marks the Falcons' first title since 2003 and underscores a resurgence that has defined their 2026 campaign.
A Game of Momentum
Early in the game, Jackson Sherrard delivered a two‑out double down the left‑field line, driving in the game's first run and giving St. Xavier a 1‑0 lead. Thomas George later scored from second on a Cullen O'Brien single in the fourth inning, extending the advantage to 2‑0.
Sam Sprengard's sacrifice fly brought in Cameron Schaefer, pushing the lead to 3‑0, while reliever Braden Bricking sealed the win with a sac fly in the top of the seventh that made it 4‑2.
Moeller fought back in the later innings, with Conner Cuozzo driving in an RBI and Matt Ponatoski adding a sac fly to narrow the gap, but the Falcons held firm.
The win caps a remarkable eight‑game winning streak for St. Xavier, which included a 5‑0 shutout of Lewis Center Olentangy Orange in the state semifinal.
Meanwhile, Badin High School, riding a 24‑game streak and seeking its first state title since 1996, will meet Columbus Bishop Watterson in the Division III final later Saturday at 7 p.m., also in Akron.
The championship game was the fourth meeting between the two storied programs this season, highlighting a rivalry that has produced memorable contests across multiple sports.