The Licking Valley Panthers saw their state-championship dreams evaporate on Thursday night, as they were routed 16-6 by Bishop Fenwick in a Division IV regional semifinal.
Valley had taken an early 3-0 lead, sparked by Brody Rodgers’ run on a wild pitch and RBI doubles from Zane Hochschild and Rodgers in the second inning, but the advantage quickly vanished.
A cascade of pitching problems proved costly; five Valley pitchers combined for ten walks and two errors, allowing Fenwick to mount an eight-run third inning that flipped the momentum.
Turning points in the game
Fenwick’s offense surged in the third and fourth innings, with Carter Shouse delivering two-run singles and Jude McCullough adding a two-run double in the fifth, while Jackson Kauffman’s experience from last year’s regional loss fueled the rally.
Coach Adam Arcuri acknowledged the team’s poor performance, praising Fenwick’s execution while reflecting on the Panthers’ missed opportunities.
Despite the loss, the Panthers finished the season with a remarkable streak, capturing three consecutive Licking County League-Buckeye Division titles and repeating as district champions for the first time in program history.
The roster will lose ten seniors, including Adam West, Zane Hancock, Silas Kyle, Ethan Wolfe, Trey McLaughlin, Hochschild, and Grayson Snow, but the foundation laid by this group sets the stage for future success.