'We get extra help from Coach Luca:' Late coach prominent in thoughts of Twinsburg baseball
MENTOR – Twinsburg baseball coach Jim Lipinski swears there was a touch of divine intervention Tuesday during the Tigers’ 7-5 win over Hoban.
To a player, no one disputed that as seventh-seeded Twinsburg (19-5) knocked out fourth-seeded Hoban (18-6) with three runs in the top of the seventh to advance to the Division I, Northeast 1 district final.
It’s the first time the Tigers have reached the round of 32 since 2015.
“It’s who we are and, let’s be honest, we get extra help from coach (Jeff) Luca,” Lipinski said. “There’s extra fight. We have 12 seniors. They never give up. They always fight. It’s the ultimate team win.”
There’s no doubt Coach Luca, who died in a car accident in December, would be smiling after the Tigers went up four, fell down by a run and then rallied to win.
The district semifinal was a microcosm of the fight the team has had all season. It could have been a season in which no one would blame the Tigers for taking one on the chin.
Instead, they can share a piece of the Suburban League National Conference on Wednesday with a win over Nordonia.
If that isn’t enough, a win over Dover on Thursday in the district final would put Twinsburg in a regional for the first time since 2006.
“I think Coach Luca controlled the game, honestly,” Tigers first baseman Kris Kimmel said. “Hoban is a great team. We’ve been waiting for a good team like that. It’s super special that we beat them today. I know for sure he’s looking down and helping us out.”
How Twinsburg beat Hoban to advance to a Division I district final
The district semifinal truly was like a roller coaster.
The Tigers went up 4-0 with Josh Stalnaker providing a groundout RBI in the first and a two-out double in the third. Kimmel brough Stalnaker home in the third with a single to left and it looked like Twinsburg could put it on cruise control.
A three-run home run by Hoban's Mike Ciavolella in the third made it a one-run game and Andrew Karhoff’s single to left in the sixth tied it.
Hoban took the lead in the sixth on a single to center by Blake Bantum, and the Knights appeared poised to reach a district final for the fourth straight season.
Twinsburg didn’t give in and tied it on a wild pitch before Kimmel’s one-out single to left brought in two.
Ryan Hojdar came on in relief of Stalnaker in the bottom of the inning and picked up his third save. He struck out two and left a runner on first to end it.
“This team has had to fight through adversity in so many different ways,” Stalnaker said. “Coming from a 6-17 season last year to coming back this year with our coach unfortunately passing away in December, that hit a lot of kids.
“I know the way he impacted my teammates and a lot of the people in the Twinsburg community. I know the adversity we fought through helped us. Everybody has everyone else’s backs. It’s so fun to be a part of.”
What’s next in the OHSAA district final for Twinsburg
A game with Dover awaits after the 17th-seeded Tornadoes upset second-seeded Mentor 3-2 on its home turf.
Dover (15-11) and Twinsburg return to Mentor on Thursday. A sacrifice fly by Dover's Nathan Leggett scored the winning run in the top of the fourth to snap a 2-2 tie.
That was enough for Liam Mast to hold on in a complete game four-hitter that included one earned run, four walks and a strikeout.
It pushed the Tornadoes into a district final for the first time since 2021.
Kimmel said “a huge opportunity” awaits Twinsburg.
“We’ve been waiting for this for years," he said. "We haven’t gotten to this point for a decade, but this year I really feel something. Dover is a really good team, but I think we’re ready for them.”
Great senior class exits Hoban baseball
The bar has been set with these 12th-graders for the Knights.
They came in as state champs, finished second as sophomores and were district champions last season.
The class exits 84-36 and has a lifetime of memories.
“They’ve definitely raised the standard,” Hoban coach Derek Carmichael said. “They’ve had a huge four years and played in big games. The kids and people they are, they’ve raised the standard of how a Hoban player acts and their approach on life.
“They’re great kids and have become unbelievable leaders. They’re a group I run decisions through because they’re mature. That’s a lot for an 18-year-old to perform on the field and be a good leader and be a good person, and we’ve got 10 of them.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA baseball, Twinsburg rallies to beat Hoban in district semifinal
