Johnson Breaks Saves Record, Rice Homers as Louisville Nixes Nordinia 6-1 at Canal Park – Baseball
Louisville 6, Nordonia 1
<<< At Hoban | Baseball Schedule | Vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic >>>
The Louisville Leopards Varsity Baseball Team broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run fifth inning and never looked back in a 6-1 win over the Nordonia Knights Friday evening at Canal Park in Akron. The victory snaps the Leopards’ three-game skid as they improve to 7-10 on the season.
Varsity Recap | View Box Score | JV Recap | JV Box Score
Johnson Breaks LHS Career Saves Record
Relief pitcher Blake Johnson shut the door over the final three innings to preserve the victory and earn the sixth save of his varsity career—a new Louisville Baseball all-time record. Johnson surpasses the previous mark of five career saves shared by Adam Boudler and Nathan Mongiardo. The save was also Johnson’s first of the 2025 season after setting the single-season school record with five saves in 2024.
Johnson entered in relief in the bottom of the fifth and silenced any hopes of a Nordonia rally. He tossed three scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing just two hits and two walks. The final out was a grounder to Max Roberts at second, sealing the milestone save.
Rice Hits 1st Inside-The-Park Home Run Since 2012
Johnson’s record-breaking save wasn’t the only history-making moment at the ballpark Friday. Cooper Rice hit a dramatic two-out, two-run inside-the-park home run to right field to cap off a 3-run Leopard fifth. This was the first inside-the-park home run by a Louisville player since Alex Hollifield hit one at home in a 4-3 win against Salem in 2012.
Rice also recorded two of the Leopards’ five stolen bases on the evening.
Aljancic Puts Louisville in Front
With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the fifth, Tate Aljancic delivered a go-ahead RBI single to center scoring courtesy runner Landyn Fohner. Fohner also stole two bases earlier in the contest.
Louisville added two insurance runs in the seventh. Kolton Loy reached on an error by the third baseman, allowing Luke Seaman to score from first. Loy then came home on Aljancic’s sacrifice fly to center field to make it 6-1.
Loy kickstarted the Leopards earlier with a triple to lead off the third inning. He also came home via a sacrifice fly by Jake Paumier to give Louisville the early 1-0 advantage.
Leghart Dominant at the Start
Starting pitcher Brock Leghart was dominant on the mound through four innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out six. He earned the win and held the Knights scoreless outside of a third-inning RBI double by Drew Leffel.
Leghart improves to 2-3 on the season after earning the win.
Nordonia drops to 2-11 with the loss.
UP NEXT: The Louisville Baseball Team will next take a road trip to Pittsburgh concluding with a game at Pittsburgh Central Catholic on Monday, May 5. Game time is set for 3:45 PM. JV will host Cleveland St. Ignatius on Monday, May 5 at 5:15 PM.
Cover Photo By Rick Everhart Photography
Stay Up to Date with the Leps!
Subscribe to Our Free Email List:
Donate to Leopard Nation
Don’t forget to Subscribe to Our Posts for Free
Louisville Vs. Nordonia Varsity Baseball Box Score
LOUISVILLE 6, NORDONIA 1
Team 123-456-7 – R-H-E
Louisville 001-030-2 – 6-4-1
Nordonia 001-000-0 – 1-4-2
LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS BATTING
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Rice #11 (CF) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cody Zahler #24 (2B) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| –Max Roberts #2 (2B) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grayson Brunoni #10 (1B) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zander Triplett #16 (RF) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brock Leghart #15 (P) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| –Blake Johnson #22 (P) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| –Landyn Fohner #24 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Beard #21 (C) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Kolton Loy #9 (LF) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tate Aljancic #7 (3B) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Jake Paumier #1 (DH) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TEAM | 22 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS PITCHING
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Leghart #15 (W) | 4.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Blake Johnson #22 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| TEAM | 7.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 |
NORDONIA KNIGHTS BATTING
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Smigel #9 (CF) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Drew Leffel #3 (LF) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dominik Canzoni #2 (SS) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Michael Wolff #17 (3B) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ben Chesser #16 (RF) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Tyler Reville #11 (DH) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Andrew McClelland #21 (1B) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kyle Nealon #5 (C) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Brandon Mitchner #12 (2B) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| TEAM | 25 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 10 |
NORDONIA KNIGHTS PITCHING
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Fakult #4 (L) | 7.0 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| TEAM | 7.0 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Records: Louisville 7-10, Nordonia 2-11
JV (4/30): Louisville 7, Jackson Freshman 4
Louisville Leopards JV 2025 Claim Victory Over Jackson Freshman Polar Bears
By GameChanger Media
Louisville Leopards JV 2025 were victorious against Jackson Freshman Polar Bears 7-4 on Wednesday.
Louisville Leopards JV 2025 got on the board in the top of the second inning after Tyler Foltz grounded into a fielder’s choice, Issac Mohler stole home, and Xavier Berdella grounded out, each scoring one run.
Louisville Leopards JV 2025 added to their early lead in the top of the third inning after Talon Zimmerman was struck by a pitch, and Caden Thorn grounded out, each scoring one run.
Cody Zahler earned the win for Louisville Leopards JV 2025. The starting pitcher allowed four hits and one run over three innings, striking out seven and walking one. Henry Bohl took the loss for Jackson Freshman Polar Bears. The right-handed pitcher went four and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on five hits, striking out two and walking one. Wyatt Wigfield led things off on the mound for Jackson Freshman Polar Bears. The hurler allowed one hit and five runs (four earned) over two and one-third innings, striking out three and walking one. Cohen Graybill pitched two innings of shutout ball for Louisville Leopards JV 2025 in relief. The righty surrendered one hit, striking out one and walking one.
Thorn led Louisville Leopards JV 2025 with two runs batted in from the number eight spot in the lineup. The right-handed hitter went 1-for-4 on the day. Zahler and Mohler were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for Louisville Leopards JV 2025. Zahler and Mohler each stole multiple bases for Louisville Leopards JV 2025. Louisville Leopards JV 2025 stole 10 bases in the game.
Rex Saliola went 3-for-4 at the plate and led the team with two runs batted in. Charlie Ruhman and Tafft Fether each stole multiple bases for Jackson Freshman Polar Bears. Jackson Freshman Polar Bears ran wild on the base paths, collecting eight stolen bases for the game. Jackson Freshman Polar Bears didn’t commit a single error in the field. Lucas Gonzalez had the most chances in the field with 11.
Louisville Leopards JV 2025 play at home on Friday against Hoover in their next game.
Copyright © 2025 GameChanger Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Any reuse or republication of this story must include the preceding attribution and is subject to the Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. Terms of Use, License Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
