Notebook: Lancaster baseball has reeled off eight straight wins, outscored opponents 83-6
LANCASTER — After winning four consecutive Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division titles and appearing in four straight district championship games and winning three of them, the Lancaster baseball team failed to do both of those things last season.
Even though they finished with 17 wins, which included losing in the first round of the tournament, to some it felt somewhat like, not a failed season, but a lost season.
That’s what happens when the expectations are so high. Add in the fantastic culture that Gales coach Corey Conn has built, and when you don’t win a championship, people start questioning things.
To make matters worse, Lancaster lost its season opener 4-1 against Licking Heights, and the Gales made a few miscues which ultimately cost them in the loss to the Hornets.
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After the game, the questions about the program became a little louder. But maybe they were a bit premature because the Gales have responded in a big way. Conn was able to steady the ship and stayed the course.
Since that home-opening loss two weeks ago, the Gales have won eight games in a row to improve to 8-1 overall, and, more importantly, they are 5-0 in the league.
“Baseball is a great game in that it is going to challenge you in different ways just like life will,” Conn said. “It’s going to prepare you for those ups and downs, and as much as we would want to be riding high for the entire season, it’s not realistic.
“You never know when those bumps are going to come just like in life, and unfortunately for us, it happened in Game 1. It wasn’t something we were expecting but it has been awesome to see how our guys have responded.”
Not only have the Gales won seven in a row, but how they have won those seven games has been in dominating fashion. They have combined to outscore those seven opponents 83-6 and have four shutouts during that span.
“You never know when adversity is going to hit, but these guys continued to trust each other,” Conn said. “We started executing some things and gained some confidence and that makes a world of difference. The more confidence you have, the better you are going to play. To our guys’ credit, they show up to practice every day looking to get better, and as a coach, that is exactly what you want.”
Gales softball continues to roll
The Lancaster softball team has been one of the most consistent teams in the Central District over the past five years, winning five consecutive OCC league titles, two district championships, a district runner-up finish and a regional finals appearance.
With all but one starter returning this season, the Gales once again have huge expectations. They are off to a 9-1 start, and fresh off a spring break trip last week that saw them play five games in Destin, Florida, against some top-notch competition.
Lancaster went 4-1 in Florida with its only loss (6-4) coming against two-time Kentucky state champion Ballard.
Area track teams having success
High school track teams are beginning to gain traction as their season starts to heat up with some big meets on the horizon, beginning with the Lancaster Fulton Relays, which is one of the top meets each year in Central Ohio and will take place next Friday night.
Along with Lancaster hosting, several area teams will be competing in the meet as well.
The Lancaster boys are off to a great start after winning the Nelsonville Rocky Brands Invitational, and the girls team is also having success.
The Fairfield Union boys and girls teams are also another program that is always right in the mix of things when it comes to winning a league championship and sending competitors deep into the postseason.
The Falcons have competed in three meets so far this season. The girls won the Newark Invitational, as well as the Athens Quad and the Logan Open meet. The boys placed third at Newark and won the other two meets.
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: H.S. Notebook: Lancaster baseball is on fire with eight straight wins
