Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — 22 years is a long time to wait.
But when Fairfield hoisted up their first district championship since 2002 on Monday, that wait felt more than worth it.
With a nine-run second inning as the centerpiece, the Lions (19-4) cruised to an 11-1 win over Racine Southern in a Division IV district final at VA Memorial Stadium.
There’s officially a new number being added to the Lions’ baseball banner.
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
“This feels pretty good. We had intensity in the first inning and kept it throughout the entire game,” Fairfield’s Zane Matthews said. “We never let down. We had one big inning and I think we really fed off that. If we keep the intensity up like that, we’re going to go far.”
Fairfield had a chance to score in the bottom of the first inning. The Lions loaded the bases with two outs and almost broke the seal. But a running catch in left field from Southern’s Josiah Smith kept the game scoreless.
In the second, however, they capitalized on an opportunity … in a big way.
Blaine Fauber worked a walk to begin the inning before Corey Zimmerman singled with one out. After both runners moved 90 feet, they scored on a two-run single off the bat of Zane Matthews.
Gabe Fouch then tripled, bringing in Matthews, to make it 3-0 before Cade Miller walked and stole second. They both scored on a two-run single from Corbin Willey, making it 5-0.
Later in the inning, following a fielder’s choice and a single, Fauber came back to the dish and logged a two-run single for a 7-0 tally. He’d later score on a fielding error before another run came around to score on a passed ball, rounding out a 15-hitter, nine-run frame — one that completely took any wind out of Southern’s sails.
WATCH: Fairfield’s win over Southern in a Division IV District Final
That was more than enough cushion for Fouch, who was dealing on the hill.
“I was really just throwing a lot of curve balls,” Fouch said. “They were just barely fouling it off or swinging and missing. Then, it was just locating the fastball.”
Southern (15-6) did grace the scoreboard in the top of the fourth on an RBI groundout from Aaron Vance, but Fouch shimmied out of trouble to end the threat of any further scoring.
In the bottom half of the inning, Fairfield answered with a pair of runs.
Matthews began the at-bat with a single before Fouch doubled. A passed ball allowed Matthews to score before Miller drove in Fouch with an RBI single, making it 11-1.
“We knew to win this game today, we had to hit,” Corbin Willey said. “The past two games, we haven’t hit like we should. But we came out today firing on all cylinders and we crushed it.”
Statistically, Fouch went all five innings on the hill, surrendering just three hits and an earned run while striking out six hitters. He was also 2-for-3 at the dish with a double, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.
Matthews also helped the Lions’ cause, 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs while Corbin Willey was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Fauber finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs, and Miller was 1-for-2 with two walks, a run and an RBI.
Fouch then slammed the door shut in the bottom half, sealing the Lions’ first district championship win since ‘02.
“We pretty much knew that winning a district championship was our main goal this season,” Corbin Willey said. “We’ve been working hard for the last five, six months and have just been grinding every day. It’s paid off.”
Fairfield now advances to a Division IV regional semifinal at 6 p.m. on May 30 at Lancaster’s Beavers Field. There, the Lions will face Sycamore Mohawk, Seneca East, South Central or Plymouth.
Those four teams have district semifinal games scheduled for this coming Wednesday with the district championship game slated for Friday.
“We need to keep swinging the bat the way we are,” Fouch said. “Any time you can put 13 hits on the board and 11 runs, you’re going to be hard to beat.”
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