Lakota East Beat Grove City 7-2 One Win From Ohio Division I Title

The Lakota East Thunderhawks scored two runs in the first inning and increased the pressure as the game unfolded, defeating the Grove City Greyhounds 7-2 at Huntington Park in Columbus.

The 22-7 Thunderhawks play Perrysburg at 10:00 Saturday for the Ohio State Championship.

Junior lefthander Mike Conrad threw 118 pitches in allowing two runs (one earned) in his complete game victory.  Conrad allowed just six hits and walked one, although he hit Grove City's Jimmy Gravett with pitches twice.  Conrad improved to 5-1 on the season.  He struck out 110 in 68 innings during the regular season.  Conrad struck out five, including Greyhound number three hitter Caleb Woodson with an 88 mph fastball on his 111th pitch of the day. The strikeout came with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Offensively, the Thunderhawks was led by sophomore catcher, Jarret Rindfleisch, who hit a pair of doubles in his first two at bats.  He also walked and scored three runs, while driving in the first run of the game.

Jesse Rait hit a two-run home run to cap the scoring.  Craig Thompson and Mitch Geers drove in runs for Lakota East.

Conrad was nicked by an unearned run in the third.  With two outs Gravett hit a ground ball to shortstop JD Wetzel.  Wetzel's throw was in plenty of time to get Gravett and the firstbase umpire made the out call but the ball trickled off the glove of Geers at firstbase.  The scores charged Geers with an error after umpires consulted to reverse the call and keep the inning alive.  Woodson singled after a wild pitch put Gravett in scoring position to put Grove City on the board.  With Woodson on second Wetzel saved a run by picking a low line drive to his left by losing pitcher Mitchel Stephens and turning the smash into an inning ending out and save a run.

Conrad cruised until the seventh one out singles by Ryan Belmonte and Tyler Kent combined with Gravett being hit by a pitch,  prompted a trip to the mound by coach Ray Hamilton.  Hamilton had his ace, Evan Hills, warming up in the bullpen.  Hills is expected to by the starter in the state final game.  Hamilton's visit gave Conrad the breather he needed.  Conrad fanned Woodson but walked Stephens to force in a run. After a deep breath, Conrad got Drew Nankivell to bounce to Blake Wilder at thirdbase.  Wilder stepped on third to send the Thunderhawks to the finals against Perrysburg.

The Yellow Jackets defeated Willoughby South in a thriller earlier on Thursday.  Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Perrysburg scored three to advance.

Hills is 8-3 with a 1.52 ERA and has authored one of Lakota East's three complete game shutouts.  Conrad and Wilder own the other two.

Lakota East pitching blanked, Centerville, Northmont in extra innings and Butler on its way to Columbus.  In the playoffs, including the semi-final win Thursday, Lakota East pitching has allowed just five runs in six games.