Hiland rolls to fourth straight regional title, heads back to Akron

Hiland kept its postseason march going with back-to-back shutouts, beating Waterford 12-0 in five innings June 3 and Mechanicsburg 12-0 June 4 to claim a fourth straight regional championship. For Berlin and the rest of Holmes County, the run means another June trip to Akron and another chance to watch a program that has made deep tournament baseball feel routine.

The Hawks did it with the same formula that has carried them all spring. Hiland outscored its regional opponents 24-0, putting together a stretch that reflected sharp pitching, steady defense and enough timely hitting to end both games early. That kind of margin is rare this deep in the bracket, and it pushed the Hawks into the Division VI state semifinals without ever having to recover from a deficit or chase momentum.

Hiland’s next test was set for Thursday at 1 p.m. against St. Henry in Akron at 7 17 Credit Union Park. St. Henry reached the semifinal round by beating Seneca East 11-6. The 2026 Ohio High School Athletic Association baseball state tournament runs June 11-14, with the remaining semifinal and championship games split between Akron and Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton. Tickets for the semifinal and championship rounds are $10 for students and $16 for adults.

This trip carries added weight because it extends one of the most accomplished runs in Ohio small-school baseball. Hiland won its third straight state championship in 2025, becoming only the third school in state history to win three consecutive baseball titles. The Hawks had also won 23 straight postseason games dating back to 2023, a streak that shows how long this group has been operating at a championship level.

Head coach Chris Dages again has a roster built for pressure, with senior right-hander Caden Coblentz among the players anchoring the postseason push. Earlier this spring, Grady Monigold was named Inter-Valley Conference Southern Division Player of the Year, another sign that the Hawks entered June with the depth and balance to keep advancing.

For Holmes County families, alumni and longtime supporters, the fourth straight regional title is more than another plaque for the trophy case. It is another convoy to Akron, another black-and-gold crowd in the stands and another reminder that Hiland is still playing for the final week of the season.