HANOVER ― As a sophomore, Brody Rodgers was a key cog in Licking Valley’s first-ever state baseball championship.
The junior shortstop is now helping the Panthers write some more history, both for the program and himself.
They just clinched a record third consecutive Licking County League-Buckeye Division title, with him entrenched firmly at the top of the lineup, and his three stolen bases on May 7 gave him 32 and close to to the single-season mark as they rallied past visiting Watkins Memorial 5-3.
“He gets on base like 90% of the time, and in most games, if he gets on first, you know he’s probably going to get to second and third,” senior third baseman Adam West said. “He does everything, and has also taken a big step defensively.”
Observed Rodgers, who had a hit and scored two runs in the victory: “I lead off, and when I get on, it gives our team a lot of confidence. After I had a quad injury from basketball, our trainer has taught me to stay loose and flexible, and that has definitely helped my speed. I trust all of our hitters to get the job done, and it’s the small details that help us win big games.”
Not surprisingly, he triggered the four-run rally in the sixth inning for Valley (17-2, 14-1), after the second-place Warriors (12-8, 9-5) had gone up 3-1.
He led off with a walk, and stole second and third. After Brandt Lichtenauer walked and stole second, West delivered a game-tying two-run single to right. Brady Croak reached on an error, getting pinch runner Ian Bebout to third, and Silas Kyle squeezed him home for a 4-3 lead. Then, Croak kept running from second as Ethan Wolfe bounced into a forceout and slid in safely with the final run.
“We proved we can come back, after being down 5-0 to Newark Catholic,” West said. “I knew he (losing pitcher Cam Burt) would probably throw me an outside slider. I think I only saw one fastball all day, so I hope coach was happy that I took it backside.”
Coach Adam Arcuri said when Rodgers gets on, it puts a lot of pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses.
“He (Burt) threw over there like four times,” he said. “It distracts them from the hitter. He’s batting .525 and right up there in steals when it comes to some of the best in Valley history, but he has a lot of speed around him to complement him.”
Rogers also singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Lichtenauer’s groundout in the third as Valley went up 1-0.
“Our hitting coach (Bren Henderson) has told me to look for a first-pitch fastball if it’s there, and if I’m down in the count, get down there on the knob of the bat and try to put it in play,” he explained.
Watkins out-hit the Panthers 8-3 behind the effective off-speed pitching of the lefthanded Burt, who struck out two and walked three. The Warriors tied it 1-1 in the fifth when Burt reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, went to third on Jax Dotson’s single to left and scored off a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.
They grabbed the lead in the sixth when T.J. Griffith singled, went to second on another errant throw and scored on Ben Coffman’s double to right center. Burt then had an RBI groundout, making it 3-1, but Watkins couldn’t quite hold on.
Dotson had three hits, while Kaden Barrows and Coffman each doubled and singled for the Warriors.
“We gave up a couple of walks and had an error, and we have to clean up our defense,” coach Donnie Schone said. “In one inning during a game like that, it magnifies things, and they took advantage. If you look at the stats, we’ve been hitting really well, but some defensive mistakes have cost us. You learn, keep moving and don’t let it happen during the tournament.”
Grayson Snow got the win in relief of sophomore Brody Sforza, who struck out eight and allowed just one run in 4⅔ innings. The Panthers have had to re-do their rotation after graduating co-aces Evan Lichtenauer and Evan Roberts.
“Sforza didn’t pitch much JV ball last year, but he’s a hard worker and put in the work during the off season,” Arcuri said. “Trevor Mye has really worked with our staff and Robby Howell, as usual, does a great job calling pitches.”
Despite already clinching the LCL title, Arcuri noted the importance of this game, with Division IV tournament pairings to be made May 10.
“Every game is big for seeding,” he said. “Jonathan Alder is undefeated, and Buckeye Valley also has only two losses. We control what we can control. It’s been the same team all year. They don’t get rattled or frazzled.”
Also a stellar quarterback in football and point guard in basketball, Rodgers has decided to pursue baseball collegiately, and will attend a couple of camps in Westerville this summer.
He and the Panthers will get to showcase their talent May 9 during the elite 10-team Curveball Classic at Defiance. The event will include all teams who have either been state champions or in the state, and numerous scouts. Valley will play Wapakoneta, a 2025 semifinalist, at 4:45 p.m. Other matchups include Defiance-Olentangy Berlin, Moeller-St. Ignatius, Jonathan Alder-Vandalia Butler and Mason-Olentangy Orange.
“People may ask why we’re traveling three hours each way to play one game, but we feel like we’ve earned this and belong there,” Arcuri said. “It took us 15 years, but we’re on the Ohio baseball map.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Rodgers sets the table again for Licking Valley comeback, another win
Reporting by Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
