By Chris Webb

Division I

Teams:  Bowling Green Regional Champion: Perrysburg (25-3). Canton Regional Champion: Willoughby South (25-5). Cincinnati Regional Champion: Liberty Township Lakota East (21-7). Dublin Regional Champion: Grove City (22-10).

Pairings: Perrysburg vs. Willoughby South Thursday 10 a.m., Grove City vs. Lakota East Thursday 1 p.m., championship Saturday 10 a.m.

Top Players: Lakota East Jr. LHP Michael Conrad (uncommitted), Lakota East Sr. Evan Hills (University of Cincinnati), Lakota East Jr. IF/OF Alex Corna (uncommitted) Perrysburg Sr. RHP Alec Schmenk (Toledo); Willoughby South Jr. RHP Cameron Knott (uncommitted); Grove City Jr. RHP Mitchell Stephens (uncommitted)

Quick hits: Perrysburg advanced to the Regional final via a walk-off squeeze-play in the 12^th inning in their win over St. John?s Jesuit? Lakota East?s Michael Conrad has struck out 19 in 14 innings, allowing just one run over two tournament games? Lakota East is making their first trip to the State Tournament, while Perrysburg?s lone trip in 2003 is the most recent of the group?Willoughby South made the field in 1981, Grove City in 1933 and 1983.

Preview: The DI final four features just one team ranked in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association?s final poll, as Perrysburg finished the season ranked fifth. While not loaded with preseason favorites nor tradition-laden programs, the final four does feature a quartet of teams that eliminated those top teams, making this year?s tournament wide open.

Perrysburg heads to Columbus after defeating Strongsville 9-2 to capture the Bowling Green Regional crown. That victory capped a run of five games leading to the State Tournament where Perrysburg has surrendered just four runs in five games, pitching shutouts against Bowling Green (7-0), Ashland (1-0), Toledo St. John?s Jesuit (1-0). At 25-3 Perrysburg has been the most consistent of the four teams remaining in Division I.

Willoughby South has been propelled by stout pitching from junior Cameron Knott in their tournament run, but when needed, their offense has spurred them to victory. A 6-5 win over Uniontown Green clinched their place in the final four, that one-run win was their second in the Canton Regional tournament as they prior defeated Medina 1-0. Victories of 5-2 over Mentor, and 6-2 over Mayfield are also in South?s pocket.

Lakota East may be the biggest dragon-slayer in the field as to their credit they have victories over #2 Vandalia-Butler and #10 Centerville. Like the two previously mentioned teams, pitching has played a big part in their success. In Lakota East?s second tournament game, the Thunderhawks downed Indiana-bound Kyle Hart and Cincinnati Sycamore 2-1. For a District title, Lakota East would next run-rule Centerville 10-0. The momentum continued, as a 1-0 win over Clayton Northmont set up a showdown with Vandalia-Butler for the right to play in Columbus.  For the third game in a row Lakota East shutout the opposition as a 7-0 win gave them the Cincinnati Regional crown.

Grove City might be the biggest wild card in the DI final four as the Greyhounds flew under the radar all season in Central Ohio before knocking off top teams left and right. Unlike the other three teams, Grove City has a double-digit loss total, and have used offensive fireworks in their advancing. On the hill, the Greyhounds are lead by junior Mitch Stephens and sophomore Drew Artrip. Without the luxury of a top-seed and bye, Grove City has played six games so far in their tournament run. Starting with a 5-0 win over nearby rival Franklin Heights, culminating with a win over Westerville Central, Grove City has score 51 runs in their six games.