PBR Spotlight Game: No. 40 (DI) Gahanna Lincoln HS at No. 14 (DI) Pickerington North HS

By Alex Schillig
Regional Correspondent 

PICKERINGTON, OHIO – The Pickerington North Panthers score two runs in the bottom of the 7th to capture a victory against conference foe the Gahanna Lincoln Lions.  

The stands were packed in Pickerington as the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the OCC Ohio Division clashed.

Two 2015 grads took the hill as Mason Daniels started for Gahanna Lincoln, and Logan Giddings started for Pickerington North.

The scoring got started in the 3rd inning.  In the top of the inning Gahanna Lincoln's third baseman Christian Chiero singled, driving in Senior Shawn Martin giving the Lions a 1-0.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning Pickerington North hitters reached base by two walks, and a bunt single, loading the bases with no outs.  Lion's pitcher Mason Daniels was able to strike out the next hitter, but walked Oakland commit Tyler Pagano with the bases loaded forcing in a run.  

With the score tied 1-1, it was crucial for Gahanna's Mason Daniels to get out of the inning with no more harm done.  With one out, Panthers Matt Poland (Dayton commit) drove a fly ball to right field which looked to be a sacrifice fly. Gahanna right fielder Zach Baumann had other ideas and threw a seed to home plate for inning ending double play.  

After a quick 4th inning Gahanna looked to add more runs to the scoreboard.  Once again Christian Chiero hit another RBI single giving the Lions a 2-1 lead.  Chiero went 2-4 on the day with 2 RBI's.

The score stuck at 2-1 as Pickerington North had their last three outs left going into the bottom of the 7th. Nine-hole hitter Corey Black started the inning reaching due to a Lions error.  After Black stole second and reached third on a wild throw, Senior Ryan Miller singled Black home tying the game at 2-2.  

Gahanna decided for a pitching change as Daniels was starting to get hit harder.  Sophomore Cole Gibson entered hoping to push the game into extra innings.  Panther's shortstop Justin Childress came up with a crucial single putting Ryan Miller at third base.  With two outs in the 7th, Matt Pollard hit a jam-shot blooper that had just enough lift to go over the third baseman's head for a Panthers walk off win.  

Logan Giddings got the win throwing a complete game.

To view scouting notes from games across Ohio, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week. 

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