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Ohio Spring baseball always seems to fly by and in 2018 that is most definitely evident with the fact we are in Columbus at beautiful Huntington Park for the State Final Four. That means the four best teams in each division will battle it out to see who is the champion.

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OHSAA Division I State Semifinal - #6 Olentangy Liberty vs #43 Medina Highland

COLUMBUS - Mitchell Okuley’s leadoff double that hit the bottom of the right-center field fence was a sign of things to come from Olentangy Liberty, which pounded out 13 hits in a 13-2 run-rule win over Medina Highland in Friday’s first Division I state semifinal.

Ohio State commit Mitch Milheim was the recipient of the support, tossing a three-hitter to finish his senior year with a 10-0 record.

The only inning Milheim struggled was in the third. With one down, consecutive singles by Bryce Budzinski, Jackson Miller and Billy Keller cut Liberty’s advantage to 4-1. Andrew Shaw walked to fill the bases before a free pass to Ryan Chema brought in Miller with Highland’s second run.

However, a strikeout and ground out ended the threat and Milheim proceeded to retire the next seven hitters in the game before coming out to a big ovation with one away in the bottom of the fifth.

Meanwhile, the Patriots scored four in the first and four more in the third with Corey Mayer driving in two in the opening inning with a double and adding an RBI hit-and-run single in the third.

After Justin Nelson and Milheim produced run-scoring hits in the fourth, a bases-loaded walk in a three-run fifth gave Mayer his fourth RBI of the game. Milheim had three RBIs and Nelson two while Corbin Parrish had three singles, scored three times and stole a base.

Eight different Patriots had at least one hit and nine scored for Liberty, which goes for win number 30 on the season in Saturday’s state finals.

Hot Takes

Biggest outs: After Highland pulled within 4-2 and the top of the batting order coming up and the bases jammed, Milheim recorded a huge strikeout before a ground out ended the inning and the Hornets never put a baserunner on again.

Players of the game: A single, double, two walks and four RBIs by Mayer is hard to beat so co-players of the game are rewarded in this instance with Milheim giving up three hits and driving in three.

Pitching key: When the top of batting order does well, so go most teams. Milheim did his best to not let that happen in the state semifinal win. The top four in the Highland lineup were a combined 0-for-10 against the Liberty lefty.

Walks can kill: If 13 hits allowed isn’t bad enough, throw in seven walks and it is no wonder the game only lasted five innings. Five of the seven scored while another that was hit by a pitch touched home plate for the Patriots.

Season finale: Rebuilding could be the theme for Highland, which entered sectionals as a seven seed and now must replace seven senior starters. Only leadoff hitter Tyler Savron and nine-hole hitter Chema return for sixth-year head coach Jay Grissom, who had the Hornets at state for the first time ever.

What’s next?: In 25 of 33 games this season, Liberty has allowed three or fewer runs. The Patriots will need that kind of pitching/defense in the final to bring home the school’s first state championship. 

Linescore

Olentangy Liberty 404 23 - 13  13  0
Medina Highland  020 00 -   2    3  0 

Records: Olentangy Liberty 29-4, Medina Highland 19-10.

Winning Pitcher: Mitch Milheim (4.1 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks). Other: Beau Foster.

Losing Pitcher: Bryce Budzinski (2.1 innings, 8 runs, 8 hits, 1 strikeout, 3 walks). Others: Brenden Meikle, Gavin Noble.

Leading Hitters: (Olentangy Liberty) - Mitchell Okuley double; Carson Comer single, 2 runs; Brennan Rowe single, 2 runs; Corbin Parrish 3 singles, 3 runs; Corey Mayer single, double, 4 RBIs; Connor Osmond single; Justin Nelson 2 singles, 2 RBIs; Mitch Milheim 2 singles, 3 RBIs. (Medina Highland) - Bryce Budzinski single; Jackson Miller single; Billy Keller single.