Charleston – Trailing 5-0 after three inning, East Hardy rallied to tie Madonna at 5-5 and again at 7-7, ultimately knocking off the top-seeded Blue Dons 10-7 in nine innings in the Class A state championship game Saturday afternoon at GoMart Park in Charleston.
Finishing with a 14-15 record, the victory makes the Cougar only the second team since 1950 to win a state title with a sub-.500 record, going the 2022 Charleston Catholic team.
Dayton Dove’s two-run single in the top of the ninth inning broke the extra inning tie, giving the Cougars their first advantage of the game.
Madonna loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame but a strikeout diffused the threat and completed the comeback.
Mason Hamilton led the Cougars with three hits and six RBI while Shayne Sisler drove in a pair of runs on two hits and earned the win on the bump.
