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2026 OHSAA Tournament: Division II State Semifinal - #4 North Canton Hoover vs #26 Walsh Jesuit

CANTON - Colin Locigno hit a two-run inside-the-park home run in the top of the 10th and Shawn Sullivan teamed up with Caleb Mecurio to throw a no-hitter leading Walsh Jesuit to the DIvision II state finals with a 4-2 victory over North Canton Hoover Friday evening.

It was the 12th no-hitter in state tournament history, and just the second combined no-no ever.

With one away in the 10th, Matt Mansbury tripled to right-center and Locigno followed with a two-run homer to right.

Mercurio completed the no-hitter with a 1-2-3 10th for the Warriors, which advance to play New Albany in the championship game on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Akron. The senior fanned four and walked a pair in four shutout innings in relief of Sullivan, who struck out 11 and gave up three free passes in six innings, giving up two runs, one earned.

North Canton Hoover took the lead on a bases-loaded walk to Brady Hassen in the second before the Warriors went in front with two in the third highlighted by hits from Mansbery, Locigno and Carlos Smith.

The Vikings evened the game in the bottom of the fifth with an earned run off Sullivan when Jack Andes walked with two outs, stole second and third and came home on a throwing error.

Four-time state champions, Walsh Jesuit has been at state four of the past six years but last made the championship game in 2010. The last title came in 2008

 

HOT TAKES

PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Sullivan, a Tennessee signee, and Mecurio are no-brainers after throwing the no-hitter, with Locigno making it a three-way honor after the game-winning inside-the-park homer, just sliding into home avoiding the tag.

WHAT'S NEXT?: The last five in the batting order return as do two pitchers that did not throw in the semifinals, but Andes, a Bowling Green commit, leaves a big hole to fill for North Canton Hoover, which made its first state appearance since 1999. Head coach Bryan Ashby is 138-65 in eight years at the school.

LINESCORE

Walsh Jesuit                 002  000  000  2  -  4  9  2
North Canton Hoover  010  010  000  0  -  2  0  1

Records: Walsh Jesuit 16-12, North Canton Hoover 25-5.

Winning Pitcher: .Caleb Mecurio (4 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Shawn Sullivan (6 innings, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 0 hits, 11 strikeouts, 3 walks).

Losing Pitcher: Jack Andes (5.1 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts, 1 walk). Others: Evan Fuller, Mason Groninger).

Leading Hitters: (Walsh Jesuit) - Matt Mansbery single, triple, 2 runs; Colin Locigno single, home run, 2 RBIs, 1 run; Carlos Smith single, double, RBI; Rylan Batley single, RBI; Ryan Clark single; Ben Babinec single, run. (North Canton Hoover) - Jack Andes run; Ryan Cervenak run; Brady Hassen RBI.

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