However, that fielding blunder is one that will live in Huskies’ baseball infamy because it not only allowed two runs to cross the plate, it completely shifted the momentum to upstart Ridgewood and helped pave the way for the Generals to post a 7-3 victory and earn a trip to the regional tournament next week.

“We had exactly what we wanted, but just didn’t execute the throw,” Harrison Central head coach Mike Valesko said of the error.

Nursing a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth, Huskies’ pitcher Trace Rutter got Ridgewood’s Zander Stroup to hit a bouncer to the shortstop, who promptly stepped on second for a force out.

Generals’ runner Kauelen Smith, who was on third, broke and found himself hung up. He was able to stay in the rundown long enough that Harrison Central air mailed the throw, which sailed over the head of the third baseman and left fielder and rolled all the way to wall. Not only did Smith score on the play, but Stroup came all the way around to put Ridgewood on top.

“We talked at practice (on Wednesday) and before the game that Ridgewood is extremely aggressive on the bases,” Valesko said. “We had the guy hung up, but, at the end of the day, I’ll take that guy over anyone in the state of Ohio to make that throw. But, he just didn’t make it (Thursday).”

The Generals didn’t stop there. They added a third run after Trent Warden, who had singled and moved to second on a walk, raced to third and then home on back to back wild pitches.

While the throwing error truly swung the momentum, it wasn’t the only play that Valesko couldn’t get past in the postgame.

“We told our guys that it’s a championship game and it was going to take all seven innings,” Valesko said. “We knew the tournament trail was going to run through Ridgewood. We knew we’d have to play for seven innings and other than maybe those two plays, it felt like we did. Give credit to (Ridgewood) though because they kept getting after it.”

Harrison jumped on top in the third when Rutter doubled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Tucker Snyder. Junior Jace Madzia then took an Andy Troyer offering over the wall in left for a solo home run.

However, the momentum was short-lived.

Ridgewood responded with two of its own in the top of the fourth and again a a defensive play that went unmade hurt the Huskies. With two outs and one on, Aden Troyer hit a foul pop to the first base side, but the ball was unable to be caught, giving Troyer new life. He eventually worked a walk, which kept the inning alive for Stroup. He promptly went shopping at the gap to clear the bases.

“That (foul pop) is another play I wish we could have back,” Valesko said. “That ball has to be caught. Those types of plays are magnified in these types of games. If those plays are made, I really like our chances.”

Harrison Central regained the lead in the fifth when Madzia doubled down the line in left to score Rutter, who had reached on a two-base error a couple of batters prior.

After the Generals’ uprising in the sixth, Harrison Central put itself in position to answer. Caleb Blawut and Cabot Arbaugh led off the sixth with back-to-back singles, which led to Generals’ head coach Chad Lahna going to his pen.

In came Warden, who promptly slammed the door. He induced a ground ball to second in which Stroup didn’t field cleanly, but still had time to tag the runner and then throw to first for the Generals’ third double play of the game.

“Those double plays just kill rallies,” Valesko said. “Give them credit for making the plays and pitches when they needed them.”

Ridgewood added two insurance runs in the seventh and then watched Warden finish the job with a perfect seventh to earn the save and give Troyer the win.

While the Generals celebrated and took pictures on the turf at Mazeroski Field, the Huskies (20-9) saw their season end at the hands of the West Lafayette-based club for the second straight campaign.

“We didn’t compete against them last year when we gave up six in the first and got (beat by run rule),” Valesko said. “We put our head down and got after it as a program for the last 12 months. Our kids bought in and that gave us a chance to compete in this game. We’ll return seven starters (in 2023), but we have to find a way to get past these guys.”