KALIDA — Under the lights at Holy Name Ball Park, St. Henry rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat perennial powerhouse Defiance, 7-5, and claim the program's first-ever ACME state baseball championship.

Defiance, chasing its 13th state crown, jumped out to a 5-1 lead after a five-run second inning that featured RBI hits from James Tracy, Brayden Weaver, and Jaren Honsberger. But the Redskins didn’t flinch.

Jake Schwieterman started the comeback in the fifth with an RBI single to center, and Austin Zimmerman followed with a booming double to deep left-center that tied the game at five.

St. Henry completed the comeback in the sixth when Tate Boeckman delivered the go-ahead hit, plating Logan Schmitz and Drew Langenkamp.

Owen Zimmerman shut the door in the seventh, inducing a game-ending groundout to Jack Buschur, who made the clean play at third to seal the title.

The win caps a historic run for St. Henry, who captured their first ACME crown at Kalida’s Holy Name Ball Park with grit, timely hitting, and an unforgettable six-run comeback.

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