Moeller takes eighth state baseball crown

COLUMBUS – Forty-three years after winning their first state championship under Mike Cameron, Moeller High School brought home another baseball trophy to Montgomery Road June 6.

The Crusaders bombed the Westerville Central Warhawks for 15 runs in the fourth and fifth innings combined to walk out of Huntington Park with the hardware, 16-0.

For Coach Tim Held, it was his fourth championship, tying his predecessor and former boss, Cameron. The Crusaders also won in 2009, 2012 and 2013 under Held.

The 42-year-old Held was born six months after Mike Cameron first brought Moeller to glory in 1972.

"I may have caught him as the head coach, but he's still been a part of all of these," Held said. "He's got his fingers on all eight of these. He's a great mentor to me. I'm so happy he still wants to coach and help us out at the lower levels."

The Crusaders drew first blood on Westerville Central's Nick Buchanan in the third when Josh Hollander knocked a two-out single and pitcher Grant Macciocchi punched one into right field that Drew Wallace dove for and missed. The result was a triple and a 1-0 lead.

Macciocchi went the five required innings on the hill for the win, allowing just three hits and striking out four. At the plate, he helped himself by going 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBI.

"It's great, it's my last day ever hitting," a smiling Missouri-bound Macciocchi said. "Nothing compares (to this). Everyone was just feeling team chemistry."

The game began its downward spiral for the Warhawks in the fourth frame when Moeller all but summoned the portly woman. The Crusaders sent 11 to the plate with six scoring.

By the fifth inning, it was a full-scale alert as Moeller batted around again, scoring nine runs on six hits. In addition to Macciocchi's farewell performance, seniors Kyle Dockus, Josh Hollander and Eric Conner all had three hits and drove in two runs. Hollander and senior Mitch Meece scored three runs apiece.

For all of Moeller's seniors, returning to Columbus after a semifinal loss last year was a goal all spring

"You never predict a finish like this in a championship game," Held said. "It's much easier on my stomach. You don't dream of this. You just play one pitch at a time. All of a sudden, the offense came alive."

To keep loose during the onslaught, Macciocchi and catcher Bailey Montoya had to go to the bullpen to keep the blood flowing.

Afterward, the Crusaders flowed freely out of the third-base dugout for the obligatory dogpile and throwing of gloves on the field.

"I can't really explain it," Macciocchi said of the lopsided victory. "My brother (Brad) was a part of this in 2012. It feels great to be back."

Moeller finishes the season 31-3 with a happy 95-mile bus ride home down I-71. Westerville Central wraps up at 26-6 with a quiet 18-mile trip back to the Columbus suburbs.

R H E

Moeller 16 15 0

Westerville Central 0 3 1

WP-Macciocchi, LP- Buchanan. Hitting- Macciocchi 3-4, triple, 4 RBI; Hollander 3-4, 2 RBI; Conner 3-4, 2 RBI; Dockus 3-3, 2 RBI. Time: 1:46.