The Chillicothe Hornets baseball team (21-12) was in Ozark Wednesday night for the Class 4 state semifinal against #4 Father Tolton Catholic (22-6-1). The Hornets, fresh off their 2-1 quarterfinal win in 11 innings against Pleasant Hill, were looking to extend the greatest postseason run in Chillicothe baseball program history.
Chillicothe had to wait longer than anticipated for their first appearance in the baseball final four. As the 2nd of the two Class 4 semifinals, the Hornets game against the Tolton Trailblazers was scheduled for 7pm, however multiple rain delays throughout the day in the games leading up to Chillicothe’s prevented the Hornets first pitch from starting until 10:30pm.
The Hornets eventually took the field with Koby Wagers drawing the start on the rubber. Wagers surrendered a double to Lucas Wietholder on the first pitch of the game, but escaped the early pressure and the Hornets came to the plate still scoreless. Chillicothe’s first two leadoff batters were walked by Tolton’s starter Sam Ryan, then Howie Donoho and Dane Ireland each connected on RBIs to give Chillicothe a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 2nd Chillicothe doubled the lead. A Wagers hit brought home Christian Still, and Jack Marshall raced in from 3rd base on a wild pitch by Ryan. In the 4th inning with Chillicothe ahead 4-0, Tolton moved reliever Wietholder to the mound. After two initial strikeouts Chillicothe summoned a rally starting with a triple from Wagers. Noah Rinehart and Donoho followed that up with hits of their own each resulting in a run for the Hornets.
Chillicothe had built a 6-0 advantage into the 5th inning with Wagers pitching. He stayed in for the 5th, eventually surrendering his first runs of the night, after another Wietholder leadoff hit. Wagers went five full innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out three Trailblazer batters.
Tolton had cut the margin to four but Chillicothe extended it in a wild sequence. In the bottom of the 5th after Cooper Robinson had advanced to 2nd after a hit, an infield single from Still moved Robinson to third, but Robinson rounded third looking to come home before being caught in a pickle. The Hornets baserunner altered course looking to return to 3rd, where he was thrown out. However he was interfered with by Tolton’s third baseman, and deemed safe by the umpires. Then following a discussion between the officials and Coach Troy Figg, Robinson was awarded the advance on the base paths and a run.
Howie Donoho came to the mound for the Hornets leading 7-2 in the top of the 6th. Donoho was excellent in the quarterfinals, pitching all four extra innings, allowing just one hit as Chillicothe advanced to this stage. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the sophomore was not as sharp pitching in this one. In five batters, Tolton scored four runs, including two RBIs from each of the top two Trailblazers in the order, Wietholder and Karter Ball.
As the clock struck midnight, and the state semifinal entered Thursday morning territory in a one run game, Coach Troy Figg brought Noah Rinehart to the mound. With the tying run at 2nd base and no outs, Rinehart was undaunted, navigating the jam and bringing Chillicothe up to bat in the 6th leading 7-6.
Chillicothe added a cushion with their two most reliable hitters on the day. Wagers opened with a leadoff double, making him 3/3 on the night. Then Donoho brought him home with his 3rd RBI of the game. Chillicothe held an 8-6 lead entering the final frame. Rinehart remained on the mound and made quick work of the Tolton batters going three up three down in the 7th to save the win for Chillicothe while not giving up a single hit in the two final innings.
Chillicothe will now play for the Class 4 State Championship back in Ozark on Thursday evening with first pitch scheduled for 7pm. The Hornets will face #2 Logan-Rogersville after the Wildcats defeated Sullivan in the first semifinal game 11-2.
