AKRON, Ohio (WLIO) — St. Henry's postseason run came to an end Thursday in the Division VI state semifinals with a 7-2 loss to three-time defending state champion Berlin Hiland.

The Redskins struck first in the third inning when Jake Schwieterman delivered an RBI extra-base hit to score Tate Boeckman. Later in the inning, Harrison Schwieterman crossed the plate on a passed ball to extend the lead to 2-0.

"My first at-bat was not very good at all. I think I struck out swinging," Schwieterman said. "That second at-bat, I think it was a two-out count. I saw a couple balls. I was just looking fastball in the zone, and one was there, and I drove it."

Berlin Hiland responded with six runs in the fourth inning, taking control of the game and never looking back.

St. Henry brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, but the comeback bid fell short.

"We knew it wasn't going to be an easy task to go against three-time defending state champions, so even though obviously we knew they were very good, we felt like we had a team that could beat them, and I still do," St. Henry head coach Mike Gast said.

The Redskins finish the season as Division VI state semifinalists after making the program's seventh trip to the state tournament.

"These are 11 seniors, most of them part of an ACME state championship last summer, playing together, while most of them continued to work baseball through the fall when they had an opportunity, continuing to get after it in the winter, and we put an entire season together. That's really hard to do," Gast said. "Just a historically good season for St. Henry baseball, which is saying something."

Schwieterman reflected on the impact of the senior class after the game.

"Our senior class was great in every aspect, in sports, in the classroom," Schwieterman said. "I'm so proud of all the guys, and one door closed, another one opens. I'm excited to see what the future holds."

 

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