The Chillicothe Hornets improbable run to the State Final Four reached its final chapter on Thursday night in the Class 4 title game. The Hornets who entered the district tournament unranked outside the top 10 had defeated #4 Tolton Catholic 8-6 in the semifinal. Now Chillicothe was tasked with a meeting against #2 Logan-Rogersville.
The Hornet raced out to a fast start on the bats just as they had the night before. Noah Rinehart had the first hit of the game and scored off an RBI single from Dane Ireland. That was the 2nd run in the first inning as Jack Marshall got the leadoff walk and made it home on a wild pitch.
Rinehart drew the start on the mound after he had come in for the save just past midnight earlier in the day for the final two innings of the semifinal win. Two hits for the Wildcats plus an error resulted in one run for Logan-Rogersville but Chillicothe entered the 2nd ahead 2-1.
After two walks to open the 2nd inning Logan-Rogersville pulled starter Charlie Greer, but the reliever Cole Evans could not stop the Chillicothe momentum either. Howie Donoho’s single scored two runs and Cooper Robinson batted another home in a four run onslaught. Chillicothe kept the run going in the 3rd against their third different pitcher. Jackson Purse tried to slow down the Hornets but a pair of doubles from Rinehart and Donoho resulted in three more runs and it was a 9-1 lead for Chillicothe after three innings.
Logan-Rogersville made a run in the 4th, scoring four runs but Rinehart stayed in on the mound. It was an uncharacteristic fielding day for both sides. Chillicothe recorded 4 errors in the game while Logan-Rogersville posted 3. The Hornets were ahead 9-5 going into the 5th, but the Wildcats found something on the mound with Purse who did not allow a hit in the final three innings. It would be up to Chillicothe to preserve the lead.
Rinehart navigated the 5th with no problems, but in the 6th Logan-Rodgersville brought the leading run to the plate with one out after scoring a run and loading the bases. Rinehart was in position to earn the win after going 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and six runs with two strikeouts. Howie Donoho was given the opportunity on the mound, after walking one batter to make the score 9-7, Donoho forced a ground out and a fly out to escape the inning.
Logan-Rogersville was down to their final out in the bottom of the 7th still down 9-7 with a runner on first when Teagen Trent who was 3/4 prior to the at bat, grounded into the infield. Donoho scooped it up, tossed the ball to Ireland at first and the celebration was on at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex.
Chillicothe claimed the Class 4 State Championship for the first time in program history with the 9-7 win over Logan-Rogersville under Coach Troy Figg. The Hornets end the season with a 23-12 record and will be bringing the state medals and trophy back to Chillicothe.
