State semifinal: Fort Loramie rallies, gets shot at championship

May 31, 2018

Fort Loramie's Hike Hoying, center left, and CJ Billing, center right, celebrate with Fort Loramie pitcher Jared Middendorf after a 2-1 win in a Division IV state semifinal on Thursday at Huntington Park in Columbus. The Redskins won 2-1 to earn a spot in Saturday's Div. IV title game. Bryant Billing | Sidney Daily News

By Bryant Billing
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UPDATED STORY: Read an updated story here.

COLUMBUS — Fort Loramie scored one run in the sixth and one in the seventh to rally from an early deficit and beat Garfield Heights Trinity 2-1 in a Division IV state semifinal on Thursday at Huntington Park in Columubs.

It’s was a pitcher’s duel between Fort Loramie’s Jared Middendorf and Trinity’s Jake Visha. The Redskins drove up Visha’s pitch count in late innings and were able to get timely hits and take advantage of walks.

CJ Billing hit a triple over the center fielder’s head in the sixth to drive in Carter Mescher, who reached on a bunt single.

Mitch Hoying was hit by a pitch and Devin Wehrman walked to start the seventh for the Redskins. After Trinity switched Visha for Clay Anderson, the runners advanced on a passed ball and Shane Hilgefort hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score one run.

Fort Loramie (26-6) will face either Hicksville or Mowrystown Whiteoak in a state final at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Whiteoak and Hicksville will play at 1 p.m. on Thursday in the other Div. IV semifinal.