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D2 regional semifinal: Waverly 2, Washington 0
ATHENS — For the first time since 2013, Waverly will play with a trip to the Final 4 on the line.
The Tigers (19-11) earned that right by handing Washington a 2-0 loss on Thursday in a true pitcher’s duel.
Waverly loaded the bases in the top of the first inning before an out was recorded. Hunter Hauck, the Tigers’ starting pitcher, helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly just before Ben Nichols grounded into a fielder’s choice, driving in another run.
And, put simply, that’s all Hauck needed on the hill. He gave Washington (18-9) fits in the batter’s box, allowing just two hits.
LT Jordan was the game’s only player to have more than one base hit, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Waverly now advances to a Division II regional final at 5 p.m. on Friday at Ohio University. The Tigers will take on Indian Creek, a winner over St. Clairsville.
CREDIT: Sam Walsh/SOSA
D3 regional semifinal: Portsmouth 6, Fairland 0
ATHENS — After winning their first district title since the turn of the century, the Portsmouth Trojans will now play for an even bigger piece of hardware.
The Trojans (24-6) took an early lead and never looked back on Thursday, topping conference rival Fairland in a Division III regional semifinal by a 6-0 count at Ohio University.
Back-to-back walks issued to Jacob Roth and Camron Williams in the top of the first inning led to a hit batter, which loaded the bases. When Zach Roth was hit by another pitch, Portsmouth took a 1-0 lead.
A third hit batter, Nathaniel Berry, then made it a 2-0 ballgame and the Trojans never relinquished the momentum. They added another run in the fourth, two in the fifth and another in the seventh to round out the night’s final.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Leelind Scurlock cruised throughout all seven innings, firing a six-hit shutout.
Offensively, Zach Roth led the Trojans’ charge with a 3-for-3 effort alongside a triple, a run and three RBIs. Trevin Brooks also chipped in, going 1-for-3 with two runs.
Fairland (14-15) was led by Cooper Cummings, who was 2-for-3.
The Trojans will now meet with Minford in a Division III regional final at 3 p.m. on Friday at Lancaster’s Beavers Field.
CREDIT: Sam Walsh/SOSA
D3 regional semifinal: Minford 11, Barnesville 4
COLUMBUS — After finding themselves in a 4-0 hole on Thursday, the Minford Falcons made the choice to fight back.
Minford (21-6) went into the fifth inning without a run on the board. But the Falcons scored a pair to cut the deficit in half and it was off to the races from there.
A six-run sixth inning sealed the deal on what was, eventually, an 11-4 win over Barnesville in a Division III regional semifinal at Ohio Dominican University.
Rhyan Queen led the Falcons offensively, going 4-for-4 with a triple, a run and five RBIs. Carter Frazie also chipped in, finishing 2-for-3 with a run, and Cam Thacker and Grant Wheeler each drove in a pair of runs.
In total, the Falcons’ offense pounded out 12 hits.
On the bump, Thacker picked up the victory. He tossed all seven innings, surrendering four earned runs on six hits and striking out seven.
The Falcons will now meet with Portsmouth in a Division III regional final at 3 p.m. on Friday at Lancaster’s Beavers Field.
D4 regional semifinal: Fairfield 6, South Central 0
LANCASTER — Cade Miller was simply magnificent on Thursday evening.
Fairfield’s right-handed hurler tossed a one-hit shutout and struck out 15 hitters, leading the Lions to a 6-0 win over South Central in a Division III regional semifinal.
The win marks Fairfield’s second-ever trip to the Elite 8.
Three runs in the first inning and three more in the fifth was more than what Miller needed. The Lions (21-4) were led offensively by Zane Matthews, who was 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs while Gabe Fouch finished 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI.
Corbin Willey also helped out, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and Wyatt Willey was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Fairfield now advances to a Division IV regional final at 6 p.m. on Friday. The Lions will meet with Berlin Hiland, a winner over Eastern Meigs.
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