AKRON — The Licking Valley baseball team showed it did not mind playing a little longer to get where it wants to go.
Zane Hancock’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Brandt Lichtenauer to give Licking Valley a 2-1 victory against Badin in a Division III state semifinal at Canal Park on Friday. The Panthers play for their first state title against University School, which beat Wapakoneta 4-0, at 1 p.m. Saturday back at Canal Park.
Evan Lichtenauer threw 8 ⅔ dominant innings before he hit the 125-pitch limit, striking out seven and allowing six hits and one run. Evan Roberts relieved and struck out the final batter of the top of the ninth.
Brandt Lichtenauer singled with one out in the bottom of the inning. After Adam West was hit by a pitch, Hancock slashed a single through the right side.
Valley previously took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Brody Rodgers doubled to lead off the inning, West singled him home.
Badin answered with a run in the top of the fifth inning, and it stayed that way until the ninth.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking Valley wins thriller to reach first state baseball final
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
