AKRON, Ohio — Several minutes after Mason High School’s state baseball championship ceremony Sunday afternoon, Comets coach Curt Bly heard his name euphorically being called by the players on the Canal Park concourse level.
Bly joyously carried the Ohio High School Athletic Association state championship trophy to loud cheers from the players, families and fans. It was a moment of a lifetime. Mason is a state baseball champion for the first time in 88 seasons.
“We talked about they’re immortal now,” Bly said. “They’re the first team. And the next team that has an opportunity knows it can be done here and it’s because of them. I love them and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
The Comets defeated Twinsburg 8-1 in the Division I state final at Canal Park. Several minutes after the final out, Bly addressed the team for a final time at the stadium.
Bly exhaled before speaking to the media. He thought of every Mason player that he’s had in the program over 11 years as the head coach. He didn’t mention the countless alumni because he didn’t want to forget anyone.
“Fifteen, twenty-five, thirty names went through my head when those guys were dogpiling,” Bly said.
Mason (28-6), ranked No. 16 nationally by MaxPreps, earned its second state final appearance in program history after the Comets were in the Class AA state runner-up in 1987. Mason was a state semifinalist in 2022 and 2018.
Mason’s 17 seniors this season had an unbreakable bond.
“They stood on the shoulders of the guys that got here two years ago,” Bly said. “Some of our leaders here were sophomores on that team and they watched those seniors will us to the final four.”
There were several Mason stars Sunday. Senior pitcher Michael Bilo threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on two hits while striking out six batters.
“A bulldog,” Bly said. “Michael did exactly what we needed him to do.”
Senior Bryce Brannon and sophomore Ben Hanley closed out Twinsburg with the final six outs on the mound.
Mason held an early 1-0 advantage in the second inning. The Comets led 4-0 at the end of five innings. Then, Mason added four runs in the sixth inning.
Mason senior Alex Koelling went 2-for-3 with a run batted in and a run scored for the game.
Senior Jake Hanley, Ben’s elder brother and the Division I state player of the year, was 2-for-4 with two runs and a double. Senior Mark Rutherford was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Senior Anthony Sulek was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Senior Casey Doner was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Senior Drew Stevens had two RBI.
“This team played phenomenal today,” Mason senior Jake Hanley said. “We were perfect today. I don’t think it could’ve gone any better.”
The Comets, winners of seven consecutive games, will never forget the 2024 state championship team on the banner at school. The state championship celebration was just starting in Akron. The team planned a celebration in front of school Sunday night.
After a memorable 1-0 win over Perrysburg in the state semifinal Friday night, the Comets are writing a new chapter in Mason baseball history and for zip code 45054.
“I’m not crying yet because this is my last game,” Hanley said. “We’re going to enjoy this one. We got hundreds of texts after the Perrysburg (state semifinal game Friday) about, ‘Go win it.’ Seeing that gave us a lot of support and we knew the town was behind us. To be able to get it done on this stage is everything.”
