T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY HARRISON CENTRAL senior Treston Nemeth (11) consoles teammate Cabot Arbaugh after the final out was recorded Saturday night in the Division III state championship game at Canal Park in Akron. Waynedale defeated the Huskies, 10-1, to repeat as state champions and deny the Huskies their first crown.

AKRON — Throughout its memorable tournament run, Harrison Central developed into come-back kids.

During its seven-game winning streak to reach Saturday night’s Division III state championship, the Huskies had rallied for victories in four of those games, including coming from seven runs down to win the regional against Wheelersburg.

Similar to the regional, Harrison Central found itself down 7-0 after two innings. Unlike the regional, the Huskies were never able to stop the bleeding and it eventually resulted in a 10-1 loss to Apple Creek Waynedale, which successfully defended its 2022 state championship.

Though disappointed, Harrison Central head coach Mike Valesko was able to compartmentalize the run that the Huskies had just went on en route to finishing with a 20-13 record. They won the school’s third district title, second regional title and played for the first state championship.

“It’s so hard to get to this point,” Valesko said. “In a single-elimination (tournament) and to go through what you have to go through, you’re resetting every seven days. If you had told me when (Tre) Rex got hurt and (Kaden) Jurosko got hurt in our first sectional game (and couldn’t pitch) that we’d be playing in the state championship game, I probably would have went and bought some lottery tickets.”

Valesko pointed directly to the first inning when the tone for the game was set.

Harrison Central senior Kaden Jurosko led off the game with a double. A couple of strikeouts and a pick-off play later, the Huskies were unable to capitalize.

Meanwhile, the Golden Bears got their lead-off hitter on, moved him up with a sacrifice and after a couple of walks, designated hitter Trey Barkman got Waynedale on the board with a RBI on a fielder’s choice.

The Huskies eventually worked out of the jam without further damage, but Waynedale’s Otto Solorzano, who was the winning pitcher in the state final for the second straight season, seemed to build off his team grabbing the early momentum.

“I thought our nerves may have hurt us a little bit in that first inning,” Valesko said. “We got the lead-off double, but then we didn’t have the greatest at-bats after that. If we’re able to get a run there, maybe we settle in a little bit? Credit to Waynedale, they made the plays and we didn’t.”

Harrison freshman Braden Cook singled and got to second with one out in the top of the second, but Solorzano fanned the next two Huskies.

And then Waynedale (23-9) was able to blow the game wide open.

The Bears proceeded to send 11 to the plate, scored six runs on seven hits and were in total control.

“It’s tough to recover from six-run innings,” Valesko offered. “We were fortunate to be able to do that (in the regional), but you do that too often and it’s going to catch up to you.”

Waynedale touched up Harrison Central starter Tucker Snyder for six runs and five hits in an inning and a third of work. Kaden Jurosko was the first option out of the pen for Harrison, but he was greeted with three consecutive hits before he was able to record the final two outs.

Waynedale added on a single run in both the third and fourth to stretch its lead to 9-0.

Harrison Central, which obviously hasn’t ever gone quietly, got on the board in the fifth when Jurosko singled home Anthony Pelegreen, who had led off the frame with a base hit.

Harrison Central senior Treston Nemeth, who was walked intentionally in the first inning, finished 0-2. He popped out to third to lead off the sixth. His brilliant career, which included being named the Division III State Player of the Year this season, came to an end actually an inning earlier than he may have expected.

Wanting Nemeth to be recognized by the droves of Harrison faithful which made the trip to Summit County, Valesko lifted his three-time All-Ohioan prior to the bottom of the sixth.

“This run was unbelievable and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with any other group of people,” Nemeth said. “To be able to play in this stadium, in a state championship game, is a true honor. We got beat (Saturday) and sometimes that happens. But, overall, this (tournament run) is something you usually only dream about.”

Nemeth was the unquestioned leader of the Huskies, but he was one of six seniors on the club. The others were Jace Madzia, Tre Rex, Jurosko, Wyatt Pierce and Cabot Arbaugh.

“These seniors are just a great group of kids,” Valesko said. “The last two weeks have been so special because we’ve been able to spend a lot of extra time with these kids. Whether it’s been in the hotel last two weeks, going out to eat numerous times or just at the field for practice, it’s been such a special run.

Madzia, who put the finishing touches on an impressive, four-sport career at Harrison, helped keep the Huskies alive in the sectional co-final with the game-winning RBI against Martins Ferry.

“This team never gave up and we just stuck with it, which led to this run,” Madzia said. “This wasn’t the ending we wanted, but overall, I think we’ll all look back on it and realize how much we’ve actually succeeded to get to this point.”