'It's just incredible.' Moeller beats Olentangy Orange for 9th state baseball championship

AKRON, Ohio − Moeller High School has added to its impressive baseball legacy.

Moeller captured the program's ninth career state championship with a 4-1 win over Olentangy Orange on Saturday morning at Canal Park in downtown Akron.

Glory Days: A look back at Moeller's state baseball titles over the years

Moeller now moves into a tie with Newark Catholic for the second-most state baseball titles in Ohio High School Athletic Association history. Moeller remains perfect all-time in state championship contests (9-0).

"It's just incredible. It's the ultimate team goal," Moeller head coach Tim Held said. "With what we put in, starting last June 5 after we got knocked out to over 365 days to be here to capture this state crown. It's all they wanted to do. I'm just so proud to be a part of it."

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Here's how Moeller finished the job for a DI title.

Hueber, Richard lead the offensive charge

In Thursday's state semifinal against Walsh Jesuit, senior right-hander Toby Hueber fired five shutout innings − setting the program record for career wins (25) − and knocked in a key insurance run with a sacrifice fly at the plate.

Hueber made a big impact in Saturday's state final offensively and especially on the basepaths. After C.J. Richard reached on an error in the first inning, Hueber singled. With one out, Hueber took off to steal second and Richard held at third. With Hueber in a pickle, Richard took off for third and Olentangy Orange first baseman Diego Astacio threw the ball away, allowing Richard to score the game's first run.

In the third, Hueber reached on a fielder's choice and stole third base. The throw from Olentangy Orange catcher Casey Covert trickled just far enough down the left-field line for Hueber to score and give Moeller a 2-0 lead.

"He (Hueber) has been our catalyst. Him and C.J. (Richard) at the top of our lineup, they've been so consistent since day one," Held said. "From this season to three years on varsity, every day you check the box, (Toby)'s done something. He's a menace out there on the bases."

Hueber then doubled to lead off the fifth, stole third base and scored on Clay Burdette's RBI single. Moeller would add another run in the frame on Connor Christenson's RBI single after a fourth Olentangy Orange error. Hueber and Richard (2-for-4) stole two bases each and Burdette had another.

"Our strength all year was us on the basepaths. Our team is unbelievable on the bases. Our speed is amazing," Hueber said. "That's always our game plan. Me and C.J. (Richard), the 1-2 hole, just get on, cause chaos in the infield and it worked out for us."

Olentangy Orange starting pitcher Jacob Tabor, a Toledo commit, took just his second loss of the season (9-2), giving up three earned over six innings.

Moeller sophomore pitcher Zion Theophilus twirls gem

Moeller starting sophomore pitcher Zion Theophilus said he was anxious when he got the ball for the Crusaders in the state championship.

If there were pregame nerves, they left after Theophilus threw the game's first pitch at 91 mph past Olentangy Orange lead-off man Ian Dando.

Theophilus worked around two-out singles by the Pioneers in each of the first three innings and allowed Olentangy Orange's only run of the game in the fourth. The Pioneers started the frame with back-to-back singles and trimmed Moeller's lead to 2-1 on Keegan Knupp's RBI groundout.

Theophilus would go on to strand the tying run at second base and no other Pioneer would reach scoring position. The sophomore finished off his complete-game, one-run performance with a strikeout of center fielder Jacob Lattig to end it. Theophilus whiffed seven and permitted just one walk and six hits to improve to 7-0.

"I felt really comfortable out there," Theophilus said. "Having a great defense behind me, I knew if they put the ball in play, we'd make the plays when we need to."

No. 5 for Held

Saturday marked Held's fifth state championship (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015), the most of any coach in Moeller history. He jumped past Mike Cameron, who laid the foundation for Moeller's baseball factory with 767 career wins and four state titles (1972, 1989, 1993, 2004).

"He (Cameron) laid the groundwork for all of this," Held said of Cameron. "He made Moeller a baseball school with great baseball players amongst all of our other sports. I'm just happy to be able to follow in that."

Moeller lived up to its billing

Moeller dispelled any doubt and lived up to pundits' predictions from throughout the year. The Crusaders were the preseason favorites in Division I and were ranked No. 1 in Ohio throughout the year and No. 27 in the nation by Baseball America.

"We liked having those expectations," Moeller catcher Nathan Manley said. "We knew we were the best team in the state. We knew that we should be here right now. We knew that we should've been here last year and we're just ecstatic right now."

Manley had the ball from the final out of the championship win in his back pocket. He has plans to have the team sign it and return it to the trophy collection on Montgomery Road.

"I don't think it'd be fair for one person to keep it."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: OHSAA baseball: Moeller tops Olentangy Orange for 2023 state title