Andrew Grimm DISTRICT CHAMPS — The Edison baseball team won its first district title in 14 years on Friday afternoon, beating top-seed Indian Valley.

The Wildcats broke things open with a four-run sixth inning to topple top-seed Indian Valley Friday afternoon in Minerva, winning the Division IV East 1 District Championship with a 6-3 victory.

“We’ve been in tough situations before and these kids don’t blink, they don’t quit and they keep finding a way,” Edison head coach Mike Collopy said. “The biggest thing is these guys believe and they never stop believing. They believe in each other and we believe in them.

“I’m happy for our school and happy for our community. Baseball is a big part of our community. I’m just really happy for our kids, they went out there and earned it and we get to keep playing.”

With their first district title since 2012, the Wildcats (21-8) advance to meet Minerva in the Region 15 semifinals Tuesday at Mazeroski Field in Cadiz.

Andrew Grimm DOUBLE PLAY — Edison's Nolan Haught turns a game-ending double play.

“We’ve been close so many times,” Collopy said. “It means a lot to me because we wanted it so bad for these guys. From Day 1 they’ve been hard workers, coachable, the type of kids you’d be happy to have as your sons.

“I’m so proud of all of these guys, I’m so happy they get to experience winning a district title.”

With the game knotted up 2-2 and neither team having led by more than one run, Kayden Russell came up with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth and smacked a two-run double to left field, giving the third-seeded Wildcats their first lead since the top of the first inning.

Santino Auteri laid down a sac bunt to bring home another run and Chase Freeman singled to plate another run before the rally ended.

“Kayden was our leading hitter last year and he’s had a tough year,” Collopy said. “I am so, so happy for him. He’s had a lot of baseball misfortune, hitting the ball hard and lining out. It’s a struggle, baseball is a mental game and he has stuck with it, that’s a credit to him. It was good to see him get the big hit.”

Andrew Grimm STRONG START — Edison's Brady Haught fired a complete game in Friday's district championship game.

The Braves (15-12) got a run back in the bottom half of the inning, but Edison starter Brady Haught retired the next two batters to end the threat and keep the lead at three. In the seventh, Haught got some help from his infield to finish things off as Nolan Haught turned a game-ending double play to seal the deal and start the celebration.

After Indian Valley plated two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead, Brady Haught only allowed one more run and two more hits the rest of the way. He finished with nine strikeouts in a complete game victory.

“The first inning with Brady, I don’t think it was nerves, I just thought he was very excited,” Collopy said. “He kind of channeled it in. After that first inning, he and coach (Mark) Smyth had a really, really good plan on how to get back in the groove and he did, credit to coach Smyth and Brady.”

Edison tied the game in the top of the third when JD Henderson doubled with one out and Evan Kimmerle singled to drive him in and knot the score. It remained that way until the sixth, Edison getting an out at the plate to end the fifth and keep the game tied, setting up the explosion of offense in the next half inning.

“I think in any sport being able to face adversity is a big part of it and we don’t run away from adversity, we’re comfortable being uncomfortable,” Collopy said. “We’ve had a lot of adversity, we’ve had some pretty unfortunate luck with injuries … everybody has stepped up. It’s taken all 28 of them, the jayvee kids included. This has been a complete team effort the whole way.”

Andrew Grimm CELEBRATION — Edison players celebrate after the final out of Friday's district championship victory.

Kimmerle opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the first inning. He finished with three hits and a pair of RBIs on the day. Henderson and Bryce Rogers also had multi-hit days for the Wildcats.

Edison did not have long to celebrate as the seniors had to get back to Richmond for graduation on Friday night. The game was moved up and started a couple hours early to accommodate the ceremony.

OHSAA Baseball Tournament

Division IV East 1 District Championship

At Carl Michael Field, Minerva

Andrew Grimm CELEBRATION — Edison players celebrate after the final out of Friday's district championship victory.

No. 3 Edison 6, No. 1 Indian Valley 3

E 1-0-1 0-0-4 0 — 6 9 1

IV 2-0-0 0-0-1 0 — 3 4 0

EDISON (21-8): B. Haught (WP, CG, 3R, 3ER, 4Hm 9K, 5BB) and Kimmerle. Henderson D, S; Kimmerle T, 2S, 2RBIs; Rogers 2S; Russel D, 2RBIs; Auteri RBI; Freeman S, RBI.

INDIAN VALLEY (15-12): McCreery (LP, 6IP, 6R, 6ER, 9H, 4K, 2BB) and Haney. Beaver D; Haney 2S, 2RBIs; Enama S.

Andrew Grimm CELEBRATION — Edison players celebrate after the final out of Friday's district championship victory.