The Cincinnati Reds turned Great American Ball Park into a stage for local triumph on Tuesday, inviting two high school baseball teams that captured state titles to bask in the spotlight.
Badin High School, representing the Dayton area, secured the Ohio Division III championship on June 12, snapping a 30‑year title drought. The victory was capped by a dramatic performance from Brooks Treadway, who took the mound and delivered the winning pitch.
Across the state, St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati ended a 20‑year championship wait, having endured a three‑season stretch that included a 10‑loss campaign in 2023. The Crusaders closed the deal with a 4‑2 win over Moeller in Akron, a turnaround that felt like a rebirth for the program.
A Community Celebrated
Both squads were presented with the Reds’ ‘Reds Country’ Achievement Award during pregame festivities, a ceremony that saw players and coaches escorted onto the field amid cheers from a crowd that blended hometown pride with the electric atmosphere of a major‑league venue.
For Brion Treadway, a former Badin pitcher who himself helped the team to a title in 1996, watching his son Brooks realize the dream on the same mound was a full‑circle moment that underscored the deep roots of baseball in the region.
The celebration was more than a trophy ceremony; it was a reminder of how high school sports can knit together generations, inspire future talent and give a community a shared narrative of perseverance and pride.
Fans, families and local leaders alike took the opportunity to applaud the young athletes, acknowledging that the victories represent more than just a trophy — they signal a renewed hope for the next generation of players who will wear the Reds’ colors in the years to come.