Lakeview scored two runs in the top of the first inning but host Geneva made key plays the rest of the way in pulling out a 3-2 win in Wednesday’s Division II sectional championship game.
With the win, the second-seeded Eagles advance to the Gates Mills District tournament where they will play No. 3 Chardon at Gilmour on May 20.
“It’s been really tough in past years and Geneva has had some very nice development over the years with Coach (Jared) Sziber,” Geneva coach Joshua Hartz said. “A sectional championship means a lot to the program and is a testament to the difficult (Chagrin Valley Conference) schedule these men play in.”
After the Bulldogs scored two unearned runs in the top of the first inning, Geneva tied the game with a run in the second and third.
Nick Stoltz, who also went the distance on the hill, scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
“It was tough getting those first two back but we ended up having Nick Stoltz on second base with two outs and Terry Miller at the plate,” Hartz said. “Terry hit a ball backside to Lakeview’s shortstop and he fumbled it a bit. Meanwhile, Stoltz just ran right through me without stopping at third and surprised everyone and ended up scoring.”
Stoltz allowed two unearned runs on three hits and he struck out nine.
“He pitched as well all seven innings,” Hartz said. “He ended up throwing 92 pitches and got stronger as the game progressed. We were a bit worried early making some mistakes behind him but he settled in nicely.”
Ben Scibona’s infield single in the third inning led to the game-tying run when Stoltz perfectly executed a suicide squeeze.
Stoltz finished the game 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. Miller and Austin Berkowitz each knocked in a run for the Eagles.
Edmund Juodenas made a key defensive play for the Eagles when he threw out a baserunner at third to end a Lakeview scoring threat.
The Eagles improved to 15-5.
