Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseballOH
Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseOHScout
Follow on Instagram- @prepbaseballohio

To view all things Spring High School Baseball Related, click here.

To view the final 2025 Team Power Rankings, please click here.

To view the 2025 State Final Four Preview, please click here.

Interested in attending a Prep Baseball Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

*** Click here to view our State Predictions ***

2025 OHSAA Tournament: Division VII State Semifinal - #1 Waynedale vs #3 Coldwater

AKRON - For the third time in the last four years Waynedale is in the state finals.

Shane Coblentz tossed a two-hitter and the Golden Bears pushed across two runs in the bottom of the fifth to nip Coldwater 2-1 in the Division V semifinals at Canal Park on Friday.

A soft liner to right field by Mason Welsch in the first inning was the lone hit of the game for the Cavs until a one-out base hit by Baylen Blockberger in the seventh. Coblentz, a Malone signee, got out of that jam to give the Bears a chance at a third state crown.

The Cavs scored their only run of the game in the third on a walk to Mason Smith, a Cody Depweg sac bunt, a stolen base and a Brady Lefeld ground out.

But Waynedale put up a two-spot in the fifth that proved to be enough, With two away, Hudson Barkman and Shane Coblentz produced singles before a walk to Tristan Franks loaded the bases after a pitching change. Cameron Miller then came through with a two-run single up the middle.

It made a loser out of Coldwater starting hurler Owen Kunk, who held Waynedale to just two hits until there were two outs in the fifth.

The top-ranked Golden Bears will now face the winner of Lynchburg-Clay and Graham in the Division V finals on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Canal Park.

HOT TAKES

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Coblentz struck out eight batters in a row between the second and fifth innings in his masterful performance. The right-hander only permitted four base runners in the game, throwing 68 of 105 pitches for strikes.

HUGE AT-BAT: It was only a two-out hit with nobody on base, but the AB by Waynedale sophomore Hudson Barkman was something to behold. The nine-hole hitter for the Golden Bears fouled off numerous pitches during an 11-pitch at-bat and eventually scored the game-tying run during a two-run fifth inning that propelled Waynedale to the state finals. 

DEFENSE IN DEFEAT: Coldwater made plays in three consecutive innings that kept the third-ranked team in the state in the game. Second baseman Mason Welsch made a nice catch in foul territory with his back to the infield in the third frame. An inning later, third baseman Miles Potkotter took a hit away from Jordan Miller on a nice stab to open up the fourth. In the fifth, shortstop Karsyn Homan dove to his left to steal a hit from Logan Troyer, the highlight defensive play of the game. 

WHAT’S NEXT?: Three sophomore starters that all play up the middle - shortstop, center field and catcher - bring the usual optimism to a Coldwater program that continues to shine under the direction of Cory Klenke, who is 78-14 in his time as head coach of the Cavs. 

LINESCORE

Coldwater    010  000  0  -  1  2  1
Waynedale   000  020  0  -  2  5  0 

Records: Waynedale 29-3, Coldwater 28-3.

Winning Pitcher: Shane Coblentz (7 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 8 strikeouts, 2 walks).

Losing Pitcher: Owen Kunk (4.2 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 3 strikeouts,1 walk). Other: Mason Smith.

Leading Hitters: (Coldwater) - Mason Welsch single; Baylen Blockberger single; Mason Smith run; Brady Lefeld RBI. (Waynedale) - Shane Coblentz 2 singles, run; Tristan Franks single; Cameron Miller single, 2 RBIs; Hudson Barkman single, run.

Recent Articles