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2025 OHSAA Tournament: Division III State Semifinal - #3 Badin vs #16 Licking Valley

AKRON - Zane Hancock drove in Brandt Lichtenauer with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give Licking Valley a 2-1 win over Badin in the Division III state semifinals on Friday at Canal Park.

With one away, Lichtenauer singled to center to end the day on the mound for Baden starting pitcher Caleb Driessen. Adam West was then hit by a pitch bringing Hancock to the plate. The junior second baseman promptly hit a ball sharply to right and Lichtenauer just missed a strong home throw for the game-winning run.

Evan Lichtenauer went 8.2 innings for Licking Valley before reaching the pitch limit and Evan Roberts came in to strike out the only batter he faced. Lichtenauer struck out seven and gave up six hits.

The Panthers went in front in the fourth when Brody Rodgers lined a double to left, moved up on a Brandt Lichtenauer sac bunt and scored on a West single.

Badin tied it up in the fifth on an RBI single from Austin Vangen, but the third-ranked Rams left nine runners on in the game in another heartbreaking defeat at state. A year ago, Badin took a 2-0 lead into the seventh before West Branch tallied three for a 3-2 win in the D-II finals.

Driessen was outstanding in defeat, fanning five and allowing five hits in 8.1 frames.

Licking Valley, the 16th-ranked team in the state playing in its first state tournament, will face the winner of Wapakoneta and University School for the state championship on Saturday at 1 p.m.

HOT TAKES

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Evan Lichtenauer kept the talented Badin squad in check and is more than worthy of the honor. The senior southpaw committed to Ohio University, who is 10-0 on the season, threw 86 of 129 pitches for strikes.

HELPS THE CAUSE: Sophomore shortstop Brody Rodgers had a nice game for Licking Valley with a double and run scored at the plate. In the field, Rodgers made a big assist in the fifth with a runner on second, fielding a grounder and throwing out the runner at third. It limited the damage in the frame, with the next two Badin hitters hitting singles.  

WHAT’S NEXT?: With six juniors starting for Badin, including Driessen on the mound and Alabama commit Chandler Taylor in center, it will be reloading time for head coach Brion Treadway, who won his 300th game during regionals. 

LINESCORE

Badin                000  010  000  -  1  6  0
Licking Valley  000 100   001 -  2  6  2

Records: Licking Valley 25-6, Badin 26-7.

Winning Pitcher: Evan Roberts. Other: Evan Lichtenauer (8.2 innings, 1 run, 6 hits, 7 strikeouts, 3 walks).

Losing Pitcher: Caleb Driessen (8.1 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk). Other: Carson Lowe.

Leading Hitters: (Badin) - Eli Wolpert single; Austin Vangen single, RBI; Chase Luebbe single; Cooper Ollis single; Jay Carmella single; Kyle Anderson single; Cade Cummins run. (Licking Valley) - Brody Rodgers double, run; Brandt Lichtenauer single, run; Adam West single, RBI; Zane Hancock single, RBI; Evan Lichtenauer single; Cameron Sopher single.

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