CVCA beats Woodridge, returns to OHSAA baseball district final to play Gilmour Academy
GATES MILLS — The Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy baseball team huddled around Gamechanger last week hoping to see Woodridge in a Division II, Northeast 4 district semifinal.
The Royals got their wish, and now will be playing in the round of 32 for the first time since 2017.
See, the Bulldogs were the only team from Ohio to beat CVCA this season, so the 3-0 district semifinal win over Woodridge was sweet relief for a squad that has won eight straight and 22 of its last 23 games.
“As soon as I saw we were playing them, I was, like, ‘Oh, yeah. I’m pitching this game. I’m going to go,’” CVCA pitcher John Harabedian said. “I’m amped up. I didn’t like how they beat us last time. We wanted to just bring it to them and come out with the win.”
The third-seeded Royals (23-4) started the season slowly with three losses on a trip to the Warrior Classic in Tennessee. Once back in Ohio, CVCA took off with its only loss coming to 24th-seeded Woodridge in an 8-5 nonleague game on on May 4.
How CVCA scored its district semifinal fin against Woodridge
CVCA's Luke Wiggers took the loss in that game, which was ironic because his two-run, two-out double in the bottom of the fourth proved to be the game winner this time around.
“I remember we were watching Gamechanger when they were playing in the round before us (a 5-3 win by Woodridge over Lutheran West),” Wiggers said. “We were all excited when they won because we wanted to get that revenge. We didn’t like the way they beat us last time and it was exciting to get back out there.”
With Harabedian on the mound, it was pretty relaxing if you were a CVCA fielder.
The right-hander struck out 14. He gave up a leadoff double to Steven Duffy, who was thrown out at second base after rounding the base too far.
After that he settled in and didn’t allow a baserunner until a two-out walk in the fifth.
“He obviously throws very hard and he's got a really good curveball,” Woodridge coach Dennis Dever said. “He mixed them up and pitched backwards a couple of times in hitter’s counts. You’ve got to tip your cap sometimes. He was definitely the alpha out there today.”
Harabedian proved that to end the first when he struck out the final batter and then punched out seven batters in a row and 12 of the next 13.
“It’s so easy,” Wiggers said. “I don’t have to do anything. I could sit down in right field and just pick flowers out of the outfield while he’s pitching. The batters don’t touch the ball.”
What's next for CVCA in the Division II, Northeast 4 District?
The next step for CVCA is a big one as they try to win district for the first time since 2004.
Up next is defending district champion Gilmour Academy (18-8). The fifth-seeded Lancers beat 14th-seeded Cloverleaf 2-1 to advance.
“Gilmour is probably one of the best teams in the area,” Royals coach Jason Herblet said. “They play a tough schedule, probably a lot tougher than many other Division II district teams. I think we’re going to come in ready to go. We’ve got a couple of guys I think going on the mound that can do it, so we’re confident.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA baseball: CVCA wins 22nd in 23-game stretch to advance
