Andrew Grimm STRONG PERFORMANCE — Edison's Bryce Rogers reacts after one of his 14 strikeouts ended an inning in Tuesday's regional semifinal win against Minerva. Edison won. 2-0, to advance to the regional championship on Thursday.

The Wildcats found a way to come out on top of another close battle on Tuesday afternoon in the regional semifinals, plating a run each in the second and sixth innings to support a gem on the mound from Bryce Rogers in a 2-0 victory over Minerva at a sunny Mazeroski Park in Cadiz.

“We had some timely hits, we found a way again,” Edison head coach Mike Collopy said. “They’re a real good team and they have a really good pitcher, so we didn’t expect anything other than a close battle all the way through. I’m really proud of our guys staying composed and being really competitive.

“We’re just ecstatic. We’re moving on to the next game and that’s all that matters now, it doesn’t matter how you do it. These guys are a special group of kids and our coaches are unbelievable.”

Edison advances to the Division IV, Region 15 championship game on Thursday in Athens at Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium. It is the first regional final appearance for the Wildcats since 2007.

Andrew Grimm WINNING MOMENT — Edison's JD Henderson and Santino Auteri celebrate after the final out of Tuesday's regional semifinal.

“We’ve hit our stride lately and these guys are playing with confidence in all three phases, offense, defense and on the mound,” Collopy said. “I’m just really happy for these guys, we’re executing when we need to. At this time of year, everybody is good, it comes down to just staying hot and finding a way and that’s what we’re doing.

“Hopefully we can keep it going.”

The now 22-8 Wildcats found themselves in another close game, which seems to right where they are comfortable. In the tournament so far, they’ve won two one-run games, including an extra innings comeback in the district semis, and their district final was a one-run game until they added some late insurance. All told, they’ve won 12 games this season decided by three runs or less, seven one-run games.

“We’re comfortable being uncomfortable,” Collopy said. “When you’ve been in a lot of close games, you’re used to it and these guys have risen to the occasion all year.”

Edison took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Evan Kimmerle led off with a double and Kayden Russell came up clutch with a two-out RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

Andrew Grimm GOOD JOB — Edison's Kyle Long is congratulated by Santino Auteri after scoring a run in the sixth inning of Tuesday's regional semifinal.

That remained the score until the sixth as Rogers and Minerva senior ace Braydon Wood dueled on the mound, getting out of jams and putting up zeroes.

Edison had seven hits going to the bottom of the sixth but just the one run to show for it. That is, until Rogers, who had ended the last five-straight innings with a strikeout, helped his own cause with a two-out RBI single to plate Kyle Long and make it 2-0.

Rogers walked a couple of batters with two outs in the seventh trying to finish a complete game and hit the pitch limit, but Long came on with the tying run aboard and got the final out to strand two runners, lock up the save and send the Wildcats into the regional final.

Rogers finished with 14 strikeouts and allowed just one hit.

“Bryce is a competitor, that’s all there is to it,” Collopy said. “Something clicked for him since the Wheeling Park game (a 4-3 win on April 29) and he’s been lights out since. His true abilities are coming out now.”

Andrew Grimm ON THE MOUND — Edison's Bryce Rogers delivers to a Minerva batter.

Thursday’s regional championship game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start in Athens. The Wildcats, ranked No. 15 in the final Ohio Prep Baseball Coaches Association poll, will take on Lancaster Fairfield Union with a trip to the state tournament in Akron on the line. The Falcons are ranked No. 11 in the state and are 23-6 on the season.

OHSAA Baseball Tournament

Division IV, Region 15 Semifinal

At Mazeroski Field, Cadiz

No. 15 Edison 2, Minerva 0

Andrew Grimm AROUND THIRD — Edison's Evan Kimmerle races around third base to score the game's first run on Tuesday.

(OPBCA poll ranking)

M 0-0-0 0-0-0 0 — 0 1 0

E 0-1-0 0-0-1 x — 2 8 1

MINERVA (14-14): Wood (LP, 6IP, 2R, 2ER, 8H, 2K, 1BB) and Sivy. Tarbet S.

EDISON (22-8): Rogers (WP, 6 2/3IP, 0R, 1H, 14K, 6BB), Long (SV, 1/3IP, 0R, 0H, 0K, 0BB) and Kimmerle. Kimmerle S, D; Henderson 2S; Long S; Rogers S, RBI; Russell S, RBI; Auteri S.

Andrew Grimm LINING IT UP — Edison's Kyle Long lines up a pitch.

Andrew Grimm REACTION — The Edison dugout reacts after a hit.

Andrew Grimm UP TOP — Edison head coach Mike Collopy high-fives Evan Kimmerle after he scored the first run of Tuesday's regional semifinal.

Andrew Grimm DRIVING — Edison's JD Henderson hits one of his two singles during Tuesday's game.