Ellet seniors Dylan Huey, Derek Cook and Dustin Franklin concluded their high school baseball careers in style with another City Series title Tuesday.
With a regular season championship already in hand, Ellet defeated Firestone 3-2 in the City Series Postseason Championship at Canal Park.
Orangemen junior Matt Cody (6-1) pitched 5⅔ innings to get the win and sophomore Griffin Malick got the final four outs to earn his first save of the season.
Tuesday’s game was much closer than the regular season, when Ellet (17-9) swept Firestone (12-14) with 12-0 and 8-2 wins in April.
“Championship games tend to be more competitive,” Cook said. “Yeah, we handled them easily twice earlier in the year, but when you get in this park and this situation, any game can be a close game. We are fortunate that Matt had a great game and Griffin had a great save, and we got some key infield hits and we were able to score more than they did.”
Ellet took a 2-0 lead in the second inning with run-scoring singles by Huey and junior Jacob Kline that scored Matt Cody’s twin brother, Steve Cody, and Huey. The lead reached 3-0 in the third when junior Garrett Haverstick scored on an error.
“Dylan has been a good leadoff hitter for us in the last half of the year,” Ellet coach John Sarver said. “He had a nice hit to drive in that first run.”
Firestone cut its deficit to 3-2 in the sixth when junior Matt Dies led off the inning with a single, the Falcons’ first hit of the game off Matt Cody. Two batters later, sophomore pinch runner David Wright scored on an RBI single by junior Demonte’ Swain. Freshman Max Erisey scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Dustin James.
“[Ellet junior third baseman] Joe Williams made one heck of a play to end the sixth [on a ground out],” Sarver said. “To charge that ball and throw it on the run, it looked like a big-league play.”
Ellet junior right fielder Cameron Brake caught the final out in the seventh to end the game. All eight of Ellet’s hits were singles, one each by Haverstick, Huey, Kline, Williams, Brake, Steve Cody, junior Matt Edwards and sophomore Caleb Schramm.
Matt Cody struck out three, walked four, hit one and allowed two runs and three hits.
“I was pitching the ball and hoping my defense would make the plays,” Cody said. “I have confidence in them. That is the key.”
Sarver praised Cody for his pitching, and the other Ellet starters for their defense.
“It was pretty amazing to come out here and get a really good team win,” Huey said. “It wasn’t just one person. I really love how the team came together and stuck with it.”
Firestone coach Matt Brooks liked his team’s feistiness and James’ grit on the mound.
“For Dustin James to come out here without his best stuff and go down 3-0 early, but keep us in the game and give us a chance to score some runs, I think says a lot about him,” Brooks said. “We have got a lot of these guys back next year, so I am excited about what next year is going to bring.”
Prior to the game, the City Series named East senior Dennis Horinger, Garfield senior Hunter First and Kenmore senior Jordan Nigh tri-players of the year,and Kenmore’s Joe Nauer coach of the year.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.