Prep Baseball Report

2021 OHSAA Tournament: Division IV State Semifinal - No. 4 Lincolnview vs No. 33 Lucasville Valley


Dylan Hefflinger and Bruce Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout and Senior Writer

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2021 OHSAA Tournament: Division IV State Semifinal - No. 4 Lincolnview vs No. 33 Lucasville Valley

AKRON - An exciting seventh-inning finish to a pitcher’s duel left fans on their feet in the Division IV state semifinal game on Saturday morning at Canal Park. Fittingly, it came to an end with a Landon Price strikeout and with it Lincolnview was in the finals with a 2-1 win over Lucasville Valley.

While Price was fanning a dozen through six scoreless one-hit innings, George Arnett kept Lucasville Valley in the game allowing just one base knock in six shutout frames.

But the Lancers finally broke through on the senior right-hander for the Indians with two runs in the top of the seventh. Collin Overholt ripped a double to right, advanced to third on a wild pitch and, after a walk to Dane Ebel and a stolen base, a one-hopper to the mound left runners on second and third with one away.

It did not stay that way long as Cole Binkley followed with a base hit to right through the drawn-in infield to plate Overholt with the first run of the game by the Lancers.

Fortunately for Lincolnview, it was not the last.

After a Binkley steal of second, Caden Hanf launched a fly ball to short center field, just deep enough for Ebel to slide into home for a 2-0 advantage.

That run proved vital when Lucasville Valley broke through in the bottom of the seventh. An error and a throwing miscue on a pickoff attempt put Andrew Andronis on second and Hunter Edwards promptly doubled down the left-field line to score Andronis.

Suddenly, the Indians were in business down 2-1 with nobody down and a runner in scoring position.

However, a sacrifice bunt attempt turned into a fielder’s choice at third base when Price threw to Creed Jessee to easily retire Edwards.  

Seven pitches later, Price had 14 strikeouts and the fourth-ranked D-IV team in Ohio was headed to Sunday’s 4 p.m. title game.

HOT TAKES

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Price, an Ohio State commit, dominated from the start fanning the side in each of the first three innings. A walk to Andronis leading off the fourth ended the perfect game and a slap hit to right by Carter Nickel to open the sixth broke up the no-hit effort. The senior left-hander finished with a two-hitter, striking out 14 and walking one, throwing 70 of 96 pitches for strikes.

DEFENSE: When a game goes into the seventh inning tied at 0-0, defense usually plays a part and this contest was no different. On the Lucasville Valley side, it came in the top of the fifth. After a free pass and stolen base, Hanf singled to right for the Lancers. WIth no hesitation, Lincolnview coach Eric Fishpaw waved home Carson Fox with the potential first run of the day. However, a perfect strike from Edwards in right field kept the game scoreless. And while opportunities to make defensive plays came far and few for the Lancers, Overholt was able to show off his arm at catcher with a perfect throw to second on a steal attempt by the Indians to end the sixth. 

BIG PLAY: Although a no-hitter was still intact, Lucasville Valley threatened to put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a runner on third and one away via a walk, sac bunt and throwing error. With left-handed hitting Breckon Williams at the plate, a pitchout on a suicide squeeze attempt left Andronis in no-man’s land and Overholt easily made the tag at home.

WHAT’S NEXT?: Overholt will get a chance to show off his arm on the mound in the state finals for Lincolnview while Valley, playing at state for the first time since 1977, saw its season come to an end at 20-12. The 33rd-rated D-IV squad in the state has a promising future with Arnett just a sophomore as is number two hurler Nickel. Edwards is another sophomore starter for the Indians. In fact, just three seniors start for head coach Nolan Crabtree, whose team gave up just six runs in six tournament games and had 23 contests giving up three runs or fewer on the year.

LINESCORE

Lincolnview            000 000 2 - 2 3 3
Lucasville Valley    000 000 1 - 1 2 0

Records: Lincolnview 23-8, Lucasville Valley 20-12

Winning Pitcher: Landon Price (7 innings, 1 run, 0 ER, 2 hits, 14 strikeouts, 1 walk).

Losing Pitcher: George Arnett (7 innings, 3 runs, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks).

Leading Hitters: (Lincolnview) - Colin Overholt double; Cole Binkley single; Caden Hanf single. (Lucasville Valley) - Hunter Edwards double; Carter Nickel single.

2021 Spring High School Season Content

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To view the 2021 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click below:

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