OHSAA District Semifinal
Benjamin Logan 4, Valley View 3 (9 innings)
The Benjamin Logan High School Raiders are headed to the District Final after a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory over Valley View in nine innings, as Cohen Archer laid down a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the game.
Benjamin Logan starter Jacob Hawley set the tone early, working around a one-out error in the first inning before striking out the final two batters of the frame. After the Raiders stranded a pair of two-out baserunners in the bottom half, Hawley returned in the second and continued dealing, striking out one batter and getting help from catcher Parker Yelton, who threw out a runner attempting to steal second.
The Raiders struck first in the bottom of the second. Archer was hit by a pitch and aggressively worked his way around the bases, stealing second and third before Oliver Morse delivered an RBI single to left field. Morse then created another run himself, stealing second, advancing to third, and eventually scoring to give Benjamin Logan a 2-0 lead after two innings.
Hawley cruised through the third with three fly outs and struck out the side in the fourth, but Valley View broke through in the fifth. After two walks and a strikeout, a hard-hit single to right plated two runs to tie the game. An error later in the inning allowed another run to score, giving the Spartans a 3-2 lead.
Hawley finished his outing allowing three runs, two earned, on just one hit while striking out nine.
Benjamin Logan answered immediately in the bottom half. Xavier Allen drew a leadoff walk and Yelton ripped an RBI double into the left-center gap to even the score at 3-3.
Adam Tinsman took over on the mound in the sixth and delivered a huge relief performance. After loading the bases with two outs in the inning, Tinsman escaped the jam with a four-pitch strikeout to keep the game tied.
Both pitchers settled in from there. Benjamin Logan stranded the bases loaded in the sixth and the teams traded scoreless innings into extras. Tinsman worked around a leadoff walk in the eighth with the help of a pickoff move, then retired the Spartans in order in the ninth to set up the Raiders’ final chance.
In the bottom of the ninth, Allen reached on an error before Tinsman and Micah Gregg were intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Cohen Archer then stepped in and delivered the game-winner. After showing bunt, Archer perfectly dropped a squeeze bunt down the first base line, allowing Allen to race home with the winning run and sending the Raiders into celebration mode.
Head coach Jeremy Allen and Archer talk about the game plan that led to the extra-inning win.
Archer finished with the walk-off RBI and also scored earlier in the game. Morse and Yelton recorded the only two Benjamin Logan hits, while Allen crossed the plate twice. The Raiders also took advantage of 10 walks in the win.
Tinsman was outstanding in relief, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and two walks and striking out seven.
Benjamin Logan improves to 17-7 and will face Roger Bacon in the District Final on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Arcanum High School.
Urbana 9, Eaton 0
The Urbana High School Hillclimbers powered their way into the district finals with a dominant 9-0 shutout victory over Eaton behind a spectacular outing from Kevin Endres.
Endres was electric from start to finish, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just two hits and two walks. He piled up 14 strikeouts in a commanding performance on the mound.
He opened the game by striking out the final two batters of the first inning before the Hillclimber offense immediately went to work in the bottom half.
Carter Houseman battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a leadoff walk, then moved into scoring position on a Brody Donahoe sacrifice bunt. After stealing third, Houseman scored on an RBI double smoked to left by Grady Lantz. Lantz later crossed the plate himself after advancing on a passed ball and scoring on a balk, giving Urbana a quick 2-0 lead.
Endres continued to dominate over the next two innings, striking out two in the second and the side in the third while working around a pair of Eagle hits.
Meanwhile, the Hillclimber offense erupted in the third inning. Endres singled, Tate Lantz walked, and Bentley Cordial reached on an infield single to load the bases before a wild pitch brought home another run. With two outs, Colton Roberts delivered a two-run single to shallow left, Houseman followed with an RBI double, and another wild pitch brought home the fifth run of the inning. Urbana later forced in another run on four straight walks to stretch the advantage to 8-0.
From there, Endres slammed the door shut. He stranded two runners in the fourth, retired the side in order in the fifth, and added two more strikeouts in the sixth before closing out the complete-game shutout in the seventh.
The Hillclimbers finished with a balanced offensive attack led by Roberts, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Houseman, Grady Lantz, and Endres each collected two hits, including a double each, while Cordial added the final RBI. Urbana also worked 10 walks in the victory.
Urbana improves to 23-6 and advances to the district championship game against Bishop Fenwick on Friday at 5 p.m. in Miamisburg.
Dayton Christian 4, Riverside 1
The Riverside High School Pirates saw their season come to an end in a 4-1 loss to Dayton Christian in district semifinal action.
Pirate starter Brody Orsborne opened the game sharply, working around a leadoff walk with the help of a line-drive double play back to the mound before recording a strikeout to end the inning.
Riverside threatened immediately in the bottom of the first. Tony Robinson was hit by a pitch and Cooper Crouch and Syler Clark followed with walks to load the bases. However, a chaotic play at the plate resulted in Robinson being tagged out trying to score on a wild pitch, and the Pirates ultimately stranded two runners after a strikeout ended the inning.
Orsborne stayed sharp in the second, striking out the first two batters he faced before Dayton Christian broke through in the third. After two quick outs, a walk and back-to-back doubles plated two runs, and a single to center pushed the Warrior lead to 3-0.
Riverside answered with a run in the bottom half. David Gross reached on a dropped third strike, later advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an error at second base to trim the deficit to 3-1.
The Warriors added an insurance run in the fifth after a leadoff single eventually came around to score on a groundout.
The Pirates threatened in the bottom of the fifth with consecutive singles from Gross and Orsborne, but a pickoff and caught stealing erased the rally before Riverside could capitalize.
Orsborne finished with eight strikeouts while allowing four earned runs on four hits and four walks. He also led the Pirate offense with two hits.
Gross and Camden Shoe each added a hit, while Crouch drew two walks and stole two bases.
Riverside closes its season with a 16-8 record.
Tippecanoe 6, Bellefontaine 0
The Bellefontaine High School Chieftains saw their season come to a close in a 6-0 loss to the Tippecanoe Red Devils in district semifinal action.
Bellefontaine’s offense was limited to just two hits and four total baserunners on the night, with its best opportunity coming in the top of the third inning when two runners reached base. However, the Chiefs were unable to solve Red Devil pitcher Cayden McKinney, who struck out eight batters in the shutout performance.
Sutton Daring and Lincoln Banta each recorded singles for Bellefontaine, while Aven Caudill and Zylar Huffman both drew walks.
Tippecanoe’s offense stayed steady throughout the evening, scoring twice in the first inning before adding another run in the second on a bases-loaded single. The Red Devils added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before tacking on two more in the sixth. Meanwhile, Tipp City’s defense retired the final 10 Bellefontaine batters in order to close out the victory.
The Chieftains finish the season with a 10-16 record.
Fort Recovery 9, Triad 1
The Triad High School Cardinals could not overcome top-seeded Fort Recovery as their season ended with a 9-1 loss in district semifinal play.
Triad threatened early after Duncan Funderburgh and Ty Botkins each delivered two-out singles in the first inning, but an inning-ending groundout stranded both runners.
Fort Recovery’s offense steadily pulled away, scoring a run in each of the first four innings while the Cardinals managed just one baserunner over that same stretch. The Indians carried a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning.
Triad finally broke through in the top half of the sixth. Funderburgh doubled with two outs, Botkins singled, and Alex May was hit by a pitch to load the bases. George Hartman then worked a five-pitch walk to force home the Cardinals’ lone run, but Jayden Blackburn was caught looking on strike three to end the threat.
Fort Recovery answered immediately with a five-run sixth inning fueled by a pair of RBI singles, a sacrifice fly, and a passed ball to put the game out of reach.
Funderburgh led Triad offensively with two hits including a double, while Botkins also recorded a pair of hits. The duo accounted for all four Cardinal hits. Hartman and JJ Roberts each added a walk.
Triad closes the season with a 9-17 record.
