SLIDING HOME — Toronto’s Michael Henry slides safely past a tag attempt from Buckeye Trail catcher Tyler Harrell during Wednesday’s Division VI sectional final game at the Knights Baseball Complex. - Andrew Grimm

Toronto — the No. 2 seed — plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning against No. 6 seed Buckeye Trail, and Lucas Wiseman’s RBI single with two outs in the sixth brought the game to a close as the Red Knights shut out the Warriors, 10-0, via mercy rule in an Ohio Division VI Eastern District Sectional Co-Final Wednesday evening at the Knights Baseball Complex.

With the win, Toronto (22-5) claimed its 30th straight sectional title.

“It is pretty special,” Toronto head coach Brian Perkins said about the 30 straight sectional titles. “I had a chance to sit there in that last inning and think about all of the years I have been here at Toronto. I thought about all of the players and coaches who have been a part of this 30 straight sectional titles. I’m just proud to be a small part of the Toronto baseball tradition.”

The sectional winning streak began all the way back in the 1995 season. That year, Perkins was in his second season as an assistant coach at Toronto under head coach Matt Morrison.

Toronto’s Drake Bouscher runs to third base after a teammate put the ball in play. - Andrew Grimm

“It has been a great run,” Perkins said. “We lost in the sectionals in my first year to Monroe Central down at Bridgeport. Every year, Coach Mo calls me and tells me not to screw up the streak. We have a good laugh about it. We talk about the different teams in the past. It has been fun. We don’t want to lose the streak.”

With the win, Toronto will now play the winner of today’s game between No. 3 seed Caldwell and No. 5 seed Garaway in the district semifinals at 5 p.m. Wednesday back at the KBC. The Redskins and the Pirates were scheduled to play at the same time as the Red Knights and the Warriors in Caldwell, however, that game got rained out, and it was moved to 5 p.m. 

“They are both good teams,” Perkins said. “Our Division VI district is one of the hardest around. I challenge anyone to find a tougher Division VI district tournament. We were able to grind out a win today. Now, we have to get ready for the district tournament.”

The Knights scored at least one run in five of the six innings in which they batted. Toronto only failed to score in the second. The Red-and-White scored in each of the final four innings of the innings of the game.

Aiden Filby went the distance and picked up the win on the mound for the Red Knights. Filby struck out four, walked one and did not allow a run while giving up just two hits.

Toronto’s Russ Dickinson makes contact with his swing. - Andrew Grimm

“Aiden was Aiden,” Perkins said. “Aiden pitched a fantastic game. He threw like 70 pitches. He threw strikes. He mixed it up. He kept them off-balance. Coming in, We knew they were a very good hitting team. We made the plays in the field behind him. We were fortunate to come out with a victory.”

The Warriors (16-7) had to use four pitchers in the game. 

Sam Wayble started the game, and he took the loss for the boys in blue. Wayble struck out one and walked three while allowing four runs on two hits in his one inning of work on the mound. Easton Rominger came on to pitch to start the second. Rominger did not record a strikeout while walking three. He allowed four runs in his three innings of relief work. Owen Carpenter replaced Rominger on the mound to start the fifth. Carpenter did not record a strikeout while walking two in his 1 1/3 innings of work. He was charged with giving up the final two runs of the game. He was replaced during an at-bat by Taylor Weaver. Weaver did not strikeout a batter and walked one. He recorded one out before giving up the game-ending single.

“I can’t tell you the last time we played them,” Perkins said. “Their coach does a nice job. We knew they were senior oriented. They play in a good conference.

“We’re excited about having the chance to compete in the district tournament.”

Toronto starting pitcher Aiden Filby delivers a pitch during Wednesday’s game. - Andrew Grimm

The victors pounded out eight hits – one of which was a double – in the win.

Individually, catcher Caden McGrath tallied two singles and four RBI, Michael Henry contributed two singles and an RBI and Wiseman collected a single and two RBI. Also, Gunnar Newbold delivered two RBI, Cole Barcus belted a double and Drake Bouscher recorded a single. Finally, Filby finished with an RBI.

Jackson Hoop produced a double for the boys from Guernsey County, while Wayble added a single.

Hoop doubled with one out in the first before he was promptly picked off by Filby, who recorded a flyout to end the inning.

Bouscher singled with one out in the home half of the inning, and Russ Dickinson reached on an error giving the Red Knights runners on second and third with one out. Henry then drew a walk to load the bases before Wayble issued another free pass to Filby, scoring Bouscher to give Toronto an early 1-0 advantage. McGrath stepped up to the plate, and he singled home Bouscher and Henry to increase the Red Knights’ advantage to 3-0. Heckathorn then reached on a walk, and Wiseman brought home Filby with a squeeze bunt to make the score 4-0. Wayble recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

Filby’s run was the first of three runs to score on squeeze bunts. Toronto used some small ball to its advantage against Buckeye Trail.

“It’s tournament time,” Perkins said. “We preach to them about having to scratch runs across, and we were able to do that today.”

Neither team scored in the second.

Henry led off the third with a single, and he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Filby before moving to third on a wild pitch. McGrath then singled home Henry to extend Toronto’s advantage to 5-0. Heckathorn followed with a base hit of his own and Wiseman drew a walk. Then, Newbold delivered a squeeze bunt scoring McGrath to make the score 6-0.

Bouscher led off the fourth by drawing a lead-off walk, and Dickinson laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance him to second. Henry followed with a single to left to score Bouscher to make it 7-0. 

Heckathorn was issued a free pass to start the fifth, and he moved up to second on a passed ball before advancing to third on a flyout. The second baseman would then score on another squeeze bunt by Newbold to increase Toronto’s lead to 8-0.

The Red Knights entered the sixth needing two runs to end the game and advance to the district tournament for the 30th straight season, and the boys from the Gem City were able to do just that.

Henry walked with one out to get things rolling, and the third baseman stole second and third. Filby walked while Henry was still at second base, and Filby was lifted from first for pinch runner Colt Joynson. Henry ended up scoring on a groundout to third by McGrath to make the score 9-0. After falling behind in the count 0-2, Heckathorn was able to extend the inning by drawing a walk setting up Wiseman to end the game with a single.

Toronto’s sectional winning streak was only interrupted in 2020 when the season was canceled due to COVID-19.

With the sectional title out of the way, the Red Knights now turn their attention to getting ready for the upcoming district tournament.

“We are going to get ready for the district tournament,” Perkins said. “We are going to pick up a game at some point, and we are going to practice. We are going to go and scout. We are going to stay ready. We are going to be ready for the district tournament.”

Buckeye Trail defeated No. 9 seed Bellaire, 3-1, in the semifinals Monday at home to earn the right to take on Toronto for the sectional title.

Toronto 10, Buckeye Trail 0

Buckeye Trail 000 000 – 0 2 1

Toronto          402 112 – 10 8 1

BUCKEYE TRAIL (16-7): S. Wayble LP (1IP, 1K, 3BB), Rominger 3IP (0K, 3BB), Carpenter (1 1/3IP, 0K, 2BB), Weaver (1/3IP, 0K, 1BB) and Harrel. Hoop D; S. Wayble S.

TORONTO (22-5): Filby WP (4K, 1BB) and McGrath. Barcus D; Bouscher S; Henry 2S, RBI; Filby RBI; McGrath 2S, 4RBI; Heckathorn S; Wiseman S, 2RBI; G. Newbold 2RBI.