Licking Valley’s Brandt Lichtenauer dives for the plate, scoring the winning run in the Panthers’ 2-1 stunning win over #1 Hamilton Badin in the Division III semi-final game at Canal Park. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Ninth-ranked Licking Valley pulled the tournament stunner thus far by knocking out #1-ranked Hamilton Badin in extra innings in the first of two Division III semi-finals.
Akron, OH – It’s why they play the game, and while no one cares about rankings at the state tournament.
Unranked for most of the season, and vastly under-appreciated, #9 Licking Valley pulled the stunner of the 97th annual state baseball tournament thus far Friday morning with a 2-1, 9 inning, win over the state’s #1 in Division III, 26-7 Hamilton Badin.
A much anticipated pitching duel between Badin’s Caleb Driesson and Ohio University commit Evan Lichtenauer, Licking Valley scratched a run in the bottom of the fourth that stood until the top of the fifth when Badin answered to tie the game at 1-1.
Licking Valley lefthander Evan Lichtenauer pitched 8.2 innings of 1-run, 6-hit baseball to send the Panthers to the Division III title game on Saturday.
From that point Driessen and Lichtenauer locked things down until both were replaced because of the pitch count rule in the ninth inning.
But in the bottom of the ninth Licking Valley opened with a one-out single to right by Brandt Lichtenauer. Badin replaced Driessen with Evan Roberts, and Roberts hit Adam West with a pitch to put Panther runners on first and second.
Zane Hancock, Licking Valley’s second baseman, came to the plate and promptly singled to right field, scoring Lichtenauer from second with a head-long lunge to touch home plate before the tag of Badin catcher Kyle Anderson.
It was a stunning finish to one of the finest pitched games in recent tournament history, and one that broke the hearts of overwhelmingly favored Badin Rams.
Publisher Sonny Fulks writes OHSAA sports and the Buckeyes for Press Pros Magazine.
Final lines:
Licking Valley won it with 2 runs on 6 hits, with 2 errors and 2 left on base.
Hamilton Badin lost it with 1 run on 6 hits, no errors, 9 left on base.
Lichtenauer finished by pitching 8.2 innings with 7 strikeouts and three walks.
Driessen finished by pitching 8.1 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 5 and walking 1. He was charged with the loss.
Licking Valley (25-6) advances to play the winner of the second Division III semi-final between Wapakoneta (22-5) and University School (out of Cuyahoga County) with a record of 25-6.
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