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2025 OHSAA Tournament: Division IV State Final - #2 Lake Catholic (Mentor) vs #19 Perkins

AKRON - Lake Catholic survived a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning to hold off Perkins 3-2 in the Division IV state finals on Sunday at Canal Park.

A two-out HBP and two singles filled the bases for Perkins, but Lake Catholic pitcher Tyler Hribar induced a pop out to give the Cougars their first state championship in school history.

“I was just trying to throw the ball down the middle and not be the guy that walked in a run,” Hribar reflected. “He put it in play and my fielder was able to make the play and we got out of there.”

Similar to the 5-3 semifinal win over Unioto when Lake Catholic scored four in the sixth for a comeback victory, the second-ranked team in the division tallied three in the bottom of the fifth to pull in front. Sean Walsh led off with a double and Hribar and Pete Malchesky walked to load them up. After a pop out, AJ Trobenter hit a sharp single up the middle to tie the game.

“I wasn’t touching the curve ball,” the left-handed hitting senior said. “He threw me the first one and it wasn’t even close so I’m like here comes the fastball and I took it up the middle.”

Brayden Mann then followed with what proved to be the game-winning base knock.

“These guys never flinch,” head coach Brian Leroy explained. “They’ve been doing it all year. We play a difficult schedule and have been in games like this. They don’t get nervous. They get excited for the moment and they come through.”

Perkins led 2-0 with runs in the first and second innings. Dylan Crabtree singled, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error to put the 19th-rated D-IV team ahead. A Kash Koch double, stolen base and a RBI ground out by Carter Koch made it 2-0.

The Pirates threatened again in the fourth with singles by Kash Kosh and Quenten Binette bringing a pitching change for Lake Catholic. Enter Hribar for starting pitcher Shea Sievers

“I didn’t want to let them score again so we can stay in this game,” Hribar pointed out.

The performance did not surprise Leroy.

“All year we’ve had four guys we trust,” the head coach said. “That’s why we’re here. Tyler, Pat (Radigan), Shea and Frankie (Trinetti), we can put any one of them out there and they come through.”

The result was the first state title for the Cougars.

“Lake Catholic means a lot to me and to a lot of people,” Leroy said. “To be able to bring one home for the community is awesome.”

And to be the winning pitcher in the game?

“It feels amazing,” Hribar related. “Undescribable. Even surreal.”

HOT TAKES

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Hribar not only kept his team in the game but ended up being the winning pitcher. The junior right-hander gave up three hits while striking out two and not walking a batter, throwing 32 of 44 pitches for strikes. He also walked and scored the game-tying run in the fifth.

D-IV TOURNEY MVP: After producing a two-run single in a four-run sixth in the semifinals, Trobenter did it again with a single to plate two against Perkins.

“I give all the credit to my teammates. They put me in that spot to get those RBIs. Each game 7-8-9 get on base for me and even (leadoff hitter) Caden (Boyes) putting down those beautiful bunts. They just put me in a great position.”

BEHIND THE PLATE: Trobenter also came up big behind the plate against a team that had more than 150 stolen bases on the season. The Lake Catholic catcher threw two out trying to steal, doubled up a runner on an attempted sac bunt pop out, and threw out another at the plate on a pitch in the dirt that got away.

“After that first inning when I made that one error, I’m like it’s baseball. Shit happens. I’ve got to get throwing. The rest is history.”

WHAT’S NEXT?: With just one senior on the roster optimism is at an all-time high for Perkins. Another trip to state is a high possibility for Blanton and the Pirates, which got better and better as the season went along, avenging three of this year’s losses, including a 9-1 win in the tournament opener over Shelby, which beat Perkins 18-6 during the regular season. … Four juniors from the starting lineup will bring experience to the Cougars and head coach Leroy, who will be entering his sixth season at the helm. Replacing pitchers at the top of the rotation, Radigan and Sievers, will be of high priority.  

LINESCORE

Perkins            110  000  0  -  2  8  0
Lake Catholic  000  030  x  -  3  4  2

Records: Lake Catholic 26-4, Perkins 22-10.

Winning Pitcher: Tyler Hribar (3.1 innings, 0 runs, 3 hits, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks, 1 HBP). Other: Shea Sievers.

Losing Pitcher: Talon Walton (5 innings, 3 runs, 4 hits, 2 strikeouts, 4 walks). Other: Braxden Martin.

Leading Hitters: (Perkins) - Bryce Davie 2 singles; Dylan Crabtree single, run; Braxden Martin single; Kash Koch single, double run; Quinten Binette single; Sam Schweinfurth single. (Lake Catholic) - AJ Trobenter single, double 2 RBIs; Brayden Mann single, RBI; Sean Walsh double; Tristan Negrelli run; Tyler Hribar run; Pete Malchesky run.

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