ON THE MOUND — Madonna’s David Connors delivers during Saturday’s state championship game. - Photo courtesy WVSSAC

When the Blue Dons ran their way to a five-run second inning, East Hardy scored one run in the fourth inning and four runs in the fifth to equalize. When Madonna took another lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars struck right back with two runs in the top of the sixth.

So, with the game in extra innings and East Hardy having scored three runs in a tightrope-walk of a ninth inning, it seemed a familiar sight when Madonna loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning.

But the seesaw affair would end there, with East Hardy planting their feet and retiring the next two batters, ending the game on a swinging strikeout and giving East Hardy their first state title since 1987 with a 10-7 victory over Madonna in the Class A final.

“I’m super proud of these guys, they worked hard all year,” Madonna head coach TJ Miller said. “It’s a heck of a ballgame. A couple of mistakes here or there, we needed some timely hitting. I can’t say enough how proud I am, these guys worked their butts off, I’m proud of our coaching staff. We had such a good fanbase here and community support and I’m extremely appreciative.

SWINGING — Madonna’s Koleton Grishkevich lines up a swing during Saturday’s state championship game. - Photo courtesy WVSSAC

“Of course it’s disappointing and these guys worked hard, but I told them, be proud of what you’ve accomplished this year, this is going to make us tougher in life, dealing with adversity. It didn’t go our way today, credit to East Hardy. They played really well, they had timely hitting, they got the job done and we didn’t. Sometimes that’s how it goes.”

East Hardy had 14 hits Saturday, while Madonna managed five hits but drew nine walks, had one batter hit with a pitch, and caused havoc on the basepaths throughout Saturday, never more evident than in the Blue Don’s five-run second inning.

After a pair of walks set up runners on the corners, Madonna’s Sam Brooks hit a ground ball to short, scoring Matt Geer from third for the game’s first score. After another walk, runners were again on the corners, and Madonna pulled off a delayed double steal, where the Cougars’ pitcher tried a pick-off at second base a tick too late, allowing the runner dashing for home and the runner diving into second to both be safe- 2-0 Madonna.

Two more walks- which made for five in the inning- and the bases were loaded for Jacob Lazear, who lofted a sacrifice fly to bring in one more run and increase the Blue Don lead to 3-0.

Madonna’s Maddox Bowen scored on a wild pitch, and Brayden Miller came around to score after Koleton Griskevich punched a single to shallow right field for a 5-0 advantage before East Hardy finally worked their way off the field.

Madonna finished as state runner up - Photo courtesy WVSSAC

An error on a shallow fly ball in left field allowed one run to score for East Hardy in the top of the fourth. It’d be one of three errors for Madonna on Saturday. East Hardy did not commit an error on the game.

“We made some great plays today and we also made a few mistakes, and that goes on me,” Miller said. “That’s the position I’m in and I take responsibility for this, unfortunately we were a little short today.”

Mason Hamilton knocked a two-run single in the top of the fifth before Shayne Sisler matched him two batters later with a fly ball cranked over the outfielders’ heads and nearly to the wall for two more runs, tying the game.

Matthew Geer came up to bat in the bottom half of the inning with runners on the corners, and came through with a poke into left field to score two and lurch Madonna back into the lead.

East Hardy needed two runs entering the top of the sixth, their second-to-last chance at bat in regulation. They walked a fine line on their way to tying the game. Two ground balls both resulted in hard-luck hits for Madonna pitcher David Connors, and East Hardy’s Mason Hamilton made the Blue Dons pay with a towering double to deep center field, scoring both runners and tying the game. The Cougars looked primed to take the lead with two on and nobody out, but Madonna gathered themselves, and Connors recorded a strikeout for the second out of the inning to put the Blue Dons in need of one more out to avoid any more damage.

Jacob Lazear came up with the defensive play of the game to get that final out of the inning. A two-out single to shallow center brought one East Hardy runner ’round to score, and the second was waved home- but a missile from Lazear got to Blue Dons catcher Kaiden Wells on a line, and Wells was able to swing around and apply a tag for out number three.

“Jacob’s got a cannon out there,” Miller said. “Anytime we’re in that kind of position I’m more than confident he’s going to make a play. You see it pitching too, he’s got great velo. Great kid, and that was huge for us, it got us some momentum.

“We had to be able to capitalize on top of that, get some guys on and manufacture some timely hits. I thought our approach, we were going early in the count, lunging a little bit. That’s how it goes sometimes and it’s on me.”

The throw nullified the play and left the score 7-7, where it’d stay until the top of the ninth. The Cougars once again fit their offense through the eye of a needle to score multiple runs. The inning began with a walk, then a quality bunt down the third base line. The attempted throw to first was high, and runners advanced to second and third with nobody out.

A slow-roller by East Hardy’s Dayton Dove just barely snuck through the left side of the infield, bringing both runners around to score.

Another hit and another walk later, and it was a sac-bunt by Mason Hamilton that brought in one more run and got the Cougars to a 10-7 advantage. Later, with bases loaded following the second intentional walk of the inning by Madonna, the free pass paid off, a comebacker to Connors yielding a 1-2-3 inning-ending double-play.

Madonna couldn’t respond in the bottom half, leaving the tying run on first when the game, and Class A season, ended on a strikeout by East Hardy’s Evan Hamilton.

Madonna’s Koleton Griskevich finished with three hits, while Geer finished with two RBI. Reed Wilharm started the game and struck out four in 4.1 innings pitched. Connors struck out three in 4.2 innings pitched.

“We started out the game real well- Brayden Miller made a nice diving catch in left field, we had good momentum, we jumped on them, just had to keep momentum,” Miller said. “Looking at our statline, Koleton Griskovich had a great day, he had three hits. We just needed more timely hits.”

“I love everyone on this team. That’s what I told them- ‘I love all of you guys, I’m always here for you, I’ll do anything for you guys.” It’s a tough moment.”

East Hardy started the season 3-10 and finished the season 14-15. Madonna ends with a record of 27-5.