ALLIANCE — Vermilion Aramys manager Dwayne Jarrell’s dream of a state Hot Stove championship still needs to be fulfilled.

That’s because Jarrell and his team saw their season end with a 6-1 loss to the unbeaten Champion Buckeyes in Sunday’s Class H (ages 9-10) state championship game at Butler Rodman Park.

“I’ve been a player and manager for 29 years,” Jarrell said. “I was on a team that was one strike away from a state championship in 1984 and have now managed five Final Four teams that have failed to win a championship.”

The Buckeyes (25-0) from the Warren-Youngstown area scored all the runs they needed in the first three innings as they gave starting pitcher Michael Turner a 4-0 lead.

Champion catcher Will Kovach drew a one-out walk in the second before a pop out to second brought Justin Taninecz to the batter’s box.

Taninecz smacked a 1-1 pitch to left-center to bring home Kovach with the game’s first run.

Jacob Zigarovich reached on an error to lead off the top of the third inning before R.J. Smith walked. Lucas Nasonti’s bunt attempt resulted in a popup that Vermilion catcher Nick Ragnoni grabbed, with Zigarovich and Smith staying at first and second.

Turner stepped to the plate and laced a 2-2 pitch down the right-field line, driving home Zigarovich and Smith with the second and third runs. Turner, who advanced to third on the throw to the plate, scored the Buckeyes’ fourth run on Preston Sharp’s sacrifice fly.

“We got some timely hitting and took advantage of errors when we could,” Champion manager Brian Turner, Michael’s father, said. “Those errors certainly can change the complexion of the game. Our boys played hard to win the first-ever state championship in the 51-year history of Hot Stove in our community.”

“Those four early runs were a real boost for us,” Michael Turner said. “That put a lot of momentum on our side and gave me something to work with.”

Aramys (41-6) starting pitcher Tristan Mayer singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Jose Modic followed with a single to score Mayer with Vermilion’s lone run. Modic was left stranded as Turner retired the next three batters on a groundball, strikeout and fly out to right field.

“Champion made plays that we normally make,” Jarrell said. “They got some timely hitting. We didn’t swing our bats today. I scouted the Buckeyes and told our team to expect a first-pitch fastball right down the middle. Good teams with good pitching can shut down your chances.”

Champion added a pair of runs in the top half of the sixth inning. Turner reached on an error to lead off the inning and came home on Sharp’s double down the left-field line. Kovach brought Sharp home with his single to right-center.

Buckeyes relief pitcher Lucas Nasonti continued to silence Vermilion’s bats over the last three innings, surrendering only a one-out walk in the sixth inning and striking out five to earn a save.

“Pitching has been our strength all year,” Brian Turner said. “It also was really nice to see us overcome some errors that almost hurt our chances in (Saturday’s) semifinal game.”

“I feel really great about this championship,” said Michael Turner, who was named most valuable player for the tournament. “It’s really an honor to play on this team.

“I threw mostly fastballs and occasionally went with my changeup. I’m also blessed to have such a good catcher as Will (Kovach). We call him ‘Gristle’ because he’s small but plays a very tough and scrappy game.”

“I really thought that we would win this game,” Jarrell said. “We have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m very proud of our boys and the great season that they had.”

Contact Jerry Henson at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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