By Alex Schillig
PBR Ohio Assistant Scouting Director

COLUMBUS, OH - No. 16 ranked Columbus Bexley escapes past Licking Valley thanks to a big third inning.  

Taking the mound for Bexley in their District Semifinal game was junior left handed pitcher Josh Shapiro.  His counterpart was young sophomore right handed pitcher Jaqui Van Meter, who served as the Panthers closer for much of the regular season.

Both starters came ready out of the gate working quick first innings, setting up what looked to be a low scoring game.  

Neither lineup could get on the board after two innings, but in the bottom of the third the scrappy Lions squad took advantage of seeing Van Meter a second time around.  

Nine-hole hitter, Alex Eikenberry singled to start the big third inning rally for the Lions.  Speedy lead-off hitter Ethan Bredemeier followed Eikenberry with a bunt single, and then both moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt.  Pitcher, and three-hole hitter Josh Shapiro got the Lions on the board when he smoked a line drive single right back up the middle plating Eikenberry and Bredemeier.  

The Bexley lineup didn't stop their though.  Clean-up hitter Marshall Drewry wanted to play a little small ball himself as he laid down a bunt single down the third baseline.  Senior Will Davis followed with an RBI single to right scoring Shapiro.  Taking advantage of the momentum, Bexley managed to add another run stretching their lead to 4-0, forcing Licking Valley to cut Van Meter's start short.  

Coming out of the Panthers bullpen was left handed sophomore Jacob Dennis, who was able to record the final out of a long third inning.  

Meanwhile, Josh Shapiro continued to mow down the opposing Licking Valley order striking out the side in the fourth.  Shapiro finished the day only allowing three hits, while punching out ten.  

In the bottom of the sixth, Bexley looked to add some insurance runs.  The Lions loaded the bases with their fourth bunt single of the day and Ethan Bredemeier second.  Senior Tate Hughes added an RBI when he walked with the bases loaded, and Shapiro recorded his third RBI of the day stretching the Lions lead to 6-0.

With only three more outs needed, Bexley looked like they were on their way to the District Finals. 

It would not come that easy though, as the Bexley defense started to fall apart.  The infield committed back to back to back errors shrinking the Lions lead to 6-2 and they still had not recorded an out. Starter Shapiro locked in though, inducing a fly ball and then fanned the last two hitters going the distance in a 6-2 Bexley victory.

Bexley moves onto the District Finals will they will take on Jonathan Alder Thursday (5/22) at Beavers Field in Lancaster.  

To view scouting notes from this game, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.

To discuss this game, please visit our partner JJHuddle.