Division V Regional Final
Liberty-Benton 3, Amanda-Clearcreek 1
ELIDA — Liberty-Benton pushed a couple of runs across in the later innings and held off a late threat to defeat Amanda-Clearcreek 3-1 in winning a Division V regional championship.
Talon Affolter and Gary Kemmerling had drawn walks in the bottom of the seventh to give AC a chance with one out and trailing 3-1.
But LB’s Kooper Leatherman wrapped up a complete game by getting the second out on a strikeout and ended the game inducing a ground ball to the third baseman who got the force to end the game.
The Eagles were the first to score Thursday when Connor Barbara opened the third with a double and advanced to third on an error. He scored on a wild pitch.
AC was struggling for baserunners with only four through the first four innings and only one hit, a double from Nick Holland in the third.
A big swing from Gary Kemmerling with one out in the fifth tied the game as he hit a home run to left. Holland followed with a single, but it was AC’s final hit of the contest.
Taden Troyer led off the 6th with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A single from Grady Latta allowed Troyer to score for a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Reid Irwin and Zach Elchert led off the inning with singles. Leatherman then singled to Holland. Irwin tried to score on the hit but Holland threw home where catcher Breece Stone got the out.
The reprieve was short-lived as Isaac Schworm doubled to center to bring in Elchert for a 3-1 Eagle advantage before the Aces got the final two outs.
Leatherman allowed one earned run on three hits with three walks and he struck out six.
Andrew Miller started for the Aces and went two-plus innings allowing one unearned run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Kemmerling pitched five innings where he gave up two earned on eight hits with a walk and he struck out four.
The Aces finish as regional runner-up with a 14-12 record, having won their first district championship in 43 seasons.
Liberty-Benton (22-5) advances to Thurman Munson Stadium in Canton to take on Columbus Academy next Thursday in a Division V semifinal.
