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2024 OHSAA Tournament: Division II State Semifinal - No. 18 Indian Creek vs No. 11 West Branch

AKRON - West Branch won a battle of teams playing in their first state tournament with a 4-2 victory over Indian Creek in the Division II semifinals on Friday afternoon.

Beau Alazaus drove in one run and threw a complete game for the 11th-rated team in the state, which scored every run with two outs.

Trailing 2-1, the Warriors took the lead with two runs in the sixth on an Anthony Perry RBI double by Charlie Biskup run-scoring single. West Branch then added an insurance run in the sventh on a two-out RBI single from Aaron Tucker after Boston Mulinix hit a single and stole second.

Indian Creek, which trailed after West Branch grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on an Alazaus two-out triple, went in front with two in the third on a two-run single by Sylus Hyde.

The 18th-rated team in the state ended the best season in school history at 22-7.

West Branch moves on to play Badin with a 26-6 record. The first pitch is set for 10 a.m. on Sunday.

HOT TAKES

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Alazaus gets the nod over Perry after going the distance with a five-hitter, winning despite walking five, hitting two batters and throwing two wild pitches. In addition to his work on the mound and big triple, the Walsh commit had a big defensive play with runners on first and third and one out in the third. On a chopper to the first base side of the mound, Alazaus made a throw to third for the second out of what could have been a huge inning for Indian Creek.

BIGGEST PLAY: Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Indian Creek had a leadoff double. But on a sac bunt attempt, Tucker made the play of the game, diving to catch the bunt while playing 20-feet from home at first. Tucker then threw to second to complete a double play.

BEST CATCH: In defeat Indian Creek left fielder Sal Barcalow had arguably the best catch of the game to take away at least one run for West Branch with an over-the-shoulder grab of a shot by Perry in the first inning.

WHAT’S NEXT?: With only two seniors in the starting lineup, Indian Creek should have high hopes in 2025 under the direction of veteran head coach Mike Cottis. Hyde is one of three sophomores that started for the Redskins.

LINESCORE

West Branch        100  002  1  -   4  6  0
Indian Creek         002   000  0  -  2  5  2

Records: West Branch 26-6, Indian Creek 22-7.

Winning Pitcher: Beau Alazaus (7 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts, 4 walks).

Losing Pitcher: Sylus Hyde (7 innings, 4 runs, 2 earned runs, 6 hits, 5 strikeouts, 3 walks).

Leading Hitters: (West Branch) - Boston Mulinix single, run; Aaron Tucker single RBI; Beau Alazaus triple; Anthony Perry single, double, RBI; Charlie Biskup single, RBI. (Indian Creek) - Ty Householder triple; Hunter Rusnak double; Gavin Pownall single; Sylus Hyde single, 2 RBI; Nick Mauer double.

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