Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

LIMA - Lima Central Catholic just knows how to get it done during the tournament as evident by their run to state a season ago. This year they have won their four games by scores of 1-0, 5-1, 3-1 and 1-0 in the district finals against Lima Bath (16-13).

With pitching being their strong point so far this tournament, Defiance College recruit Nick Watkins kept the ball rolling as he threw a three-hitter against a talented Bath squad.

Watkins went the distance allowing just the three hits and walking none, while striking out three. The righty threw 76 pitches on the day, 46 for strikes. Keeping the ball down in the zone was the key as Watkins induced 13 ground-ball outs and four fly-ball outs. He didn’t give up a hit after the fourth.

The T-Birds only run came in the third inning. Ben Stolly singled and went to second on Ethan O’Connor’s sacrifice bunt. Talented junior Colin Stolly hit a slow roller to deep second that he beat out for an infield single. The Bath second baseman got to the ball, but threw it well over the first baseman’s head to score Ben Stolly from second.

Bath's starter Caleb Norton threw a gem himself. The righty went the distance giving up one unearned run on five hits. He struck out six and walked two. Norton threw 90 pitches, 57 for strikes.

LCC (19-12) advances to the regional semifinals against the Genoa at 2 p.m. Thursday at Elida’s Ed Sandy Field.