STATE BASEBALL New Albany wins to gain title game for the first time

New Albany will face Coldwater, a five-time state champion, today in a final.
CANTON (AP) -- Ben Jeffers went 3-for-4, drove in two runs and scored twice to lead New Albany to a 9-2 win over Barnesville in a Division III state baseball semifinal Friday at Thurman Munson Stadium.
The Eagles (17-12) scored four runs in the first and sixth innings, with their leadoff hitter Jeffers figuring big in both rallies. He singled, stole third and scored on Adam Johnson's single in the first, then delivered a two-run single in the sixth.
Brock Huntsman and Craig Miller had RBI singles for Barnesville (21-5). Starter Todd Miller (5-2) got only one out in the first and was pulled after allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits.
New Albany's Ben Sullivan (6-4) pitched 3 2/3 shutout innings in relief. He gave up one hit and had three strikeouts.
Coldwater 5, Perry 4
CANTON -- Ryan Gerlach hit the tie-breaking, two-run single with two out in the seventh, and Steve Wenning pitched out of a jam to preserve Coldwater's win in the other Div. III semifinal.
Gerlach's bases-loaded single off Jake New gave Coldwater a 4-2 lead, and the Cavaliers (30-3) added a run on an error.
Scott Walters singled and Mike Bohrer doubled off Wenning to start the home seventh. After Bret Billhardt fouled out to third, Walters scored on a groundout and Bohrer came home on Jeremy Goldizen's single to close Perry (26-7) within a run.
Wenning then walked Mike Ryan before getting Aaron Wallace to fly out to left-center to end it. Wenning (15-0) allowed nine hits, walked five and struck out two in his 104-pitch complete game.
Coldwater, a five-time state champion, advanced to its first title game since winning the crown in 1992. The Cavaliers will play New Albany, making its first championship appearance, today.
New (7-2) allowed three runs, two earned, on one hit and four walks in three innings.
Division IV
COLUMBUS -- North Lewisburg Triad scored four runs -- three with two out -- in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Ashland Mapleton 5-1 in a Div. IV semifinal at Cooper Stadium.
Nick Hupp hit the tie-breaking single, Jesse McKee hit a two-run double and Chuck Williams had an RBI double off Mapleton starter T.J. Knowlton.
The Mounties (17-6) had tied the score 1-1 on Tom Pummell's RBI double in the sixth off Chris Baker. The Cardinals (27-4) scored first on Tony Cushman's RBI single in the third.
The Cardinals will play for their first state title today against Newark Catholic, the two-time defending champion.
Matt Bailey was 3-for-4 for Triad. Cushman finished 2-for-4 and Hupp went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Baker allowed five hits, walked three and struck out five in seven innings.
Knowlton gave up 12 hits, walked none and struck out five in seven innings.
Newark Catholic 2, Fremont St. Joseph 0
COLUMBUS -- R.L. Eisenbach and Doug Stevens combined on a one-hitter -- a single by the game's first batter -- and two-time defending state champion Newark Catholic beat Fremont St. Joseph to return to the title game.
Eisenbach pitched four innings and Stevens went the final three. Stevens also went 2-for-3, stole a base and scored the Green Wave's second run on Michael Taylor's single in the sixth.
Fremont St. Joseph's Mike Lento led off the first with a single, but the Crimson Streaks (20-8) managed only three more base-runners on two walks and an error.
The Green Wave (28-6) took the lead in the fifth. Trent Nutter singled, stole second, moved to third on a bunt and scored on Chris Wolheter's sacrifice fly.
Kevin Wammes allowed six hits, walked two and struck out nine in seven innings for Fremont St. Joseph.