CHILLICOTHE — Licking Valley pushed a run across in each of the first three innings on the way to claiming a regional championship 6-2 over Circleville.
The Panthers will move on to a Division III state semifinal next Friday against Hamilton Badin.
For the Tigers, Friday marked the end of a turn-around season. After posting a 12-15 record in 2024 and losing their opening-round tournament game, Circleville picked up 22 wins this year to go with eight losses.
“This team’s really special to me. They played for each other,” Circleville coach Brian Bigam said. “They took coaching when it was hard. They competed every play. I told them later on down the road when we get together, we’ll be able to tell stories and they’ll have a lot to be proud of.
“I honestly don’t think many of them and many people around probably expected us to be in the Elite Eight this year, coming off of a losing season last year. But that’s a testament to the work that they put in and how they competed each and every day.”
The Panthers (25-6) used a first-inning error to get their first run. A single, sacrifice bunt and another single led to a run in the second inning.
Licking Valley opened the third with a hit. Following a flyball to center, a dropped flyball gave LV another runner and then a walk loaded the bases. At that point, the Tigers elected to make a pitching change as Chase Foster handed over duties to Glavine Bigam.
A sacrifice fly made it 3-0 in favor of the Panthers.
Circleville, which didn’t have a baserunner in the first two innings, opened the third with Hudson Phalin reaching after being hit by a pitch. LV’s Evan Roberts struck out the next two, but a wild pitch had allowed Phalin to advance to second. Bigam then hit a single to left that brought Phalin in for the Tigers’ first run.
The score stayed that way until the sixth.
The inning began with a fly ball out to right, but a walk, a double and a single brought in another Panther run. That was followed by an intentional walk to load the bases since first base was open. A sacrifice fly brought in a run and an RBI single to center made it 6-1.
Trent Smith opened Circleville’s half of the sixth by reaching on an error. After a strikeout and a flyball, Drew Thornsley was hit by a pitch and then Foster singled to bring in Smith.
David Northam pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh for the Tigers.
Ashdon Rickard drew a walk to start Circleville’s last at-bat. Roberts responded with a strikeout, a fly ball and then recorded another strikeout to end the game.
Roberts limited Circleville to four hits, struck out nine and walked only one.
“He pounded the zone,” Bigam said. “He was a good pitcher and that’s what good pitchers do – they mix it, start you off with different pitches. He was able to keep us off balance.”
For the Tigers, Foster started and went 2.1 innings. He struck out two, walked one, gave up five hits and three runs (one earned). Glavine Bigam pitched 3.2 innings. He struck out two, walked five, gave up four hits and three earned runs.
“They beat us in about every part of the game,” coach Bigam said. “They beat us up on the bases, with base running and some small ball.
“I thought all of them competed, but you’ve got to play clean. There were too many free passes and a couple of errors and it’s tough to beat a good team and a good pitcher when that happens.”
Bigam, Thornsley, Foster and Kiser Cassidy each singled for Circleville.
