Roundup: Newark baseball stays hot, sets up showdown with Lancaster

Thomas Olon struck nine in a six-inning two-hit shutout Thursday, pitching the Newark baseball team to a 10-0 victory against visiting Groveport (0-10, 0-8) in Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division play.

The Wildcats (9-4, 7-1) extended their win streak to seven games and share the Buckeye lead with Pickerington Central. They host third-place Lancaster, which is one game back, at 5 p.m. Friday, and the teams meet again Monday at Lancaster.

Bodie Smith totaled three hits, including a double, a run and an RBI. Seth Fish added two hits, two runs and an RBI, Blane Sturm and Aidan Hamilton two hits, a run and an RBI apiece and Luke Miller a hit, a run and three RBIs.

Valley nips Watkins

Evan Roberts racked up 14 strikeouts in a two-hitter, pitching Licking Valley to a 2-1 victory against visiting Watkins Memorial, ending the Warriors’ 22-game winning streak in Licking County League play.

Roberts allowed just an unearned run and walked one for the Panthers (8-1, 3-1). Carter Sopher had a hit, a run and an RBI, and Hayden Rodgers and Gunner Bowman added two hits apiece.

Cole Massie allowed five hits and two runs for the Warriors (8-4, 5-1) in five innings. He scored the lone run on a Chase Massie single.

Heath wins at Utica

Riley Baum and Hayden Woodward each hit an RBI single during a four-run top of the seventh inning, lifting Heath to a 6-2 victory at Utica in LCL-Cardinal play.

Woodward also hit a solo home run for the Bulldogs (9-1, 5-0), and Connor Corbett added a hit and two runs, Conner Toomey a hit and a run and Kaden Green two RBIs. Baum struck out 15 and allowed one earned run and just one walk in a three-hitter.

Roman Gamble and Gavin Tussey each singled and scored for Utica (5-6, 3-3), and Jarrett Hill drove in a run. Aidyn Burgess struck out six and allowed four hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Granville wins at Heights

Nolan Tracy and Cash Thomas each hit an RBI single in a three-run sixth inning, sending Granville to a 9-6 victory at Licking Heights in LCL-Buckeye play.

Jackson McMillan hit a solo home run for the Blue Aces (5-4, 3-2), and Cy Sims added two hits and a run, Wilson Wells a hit and two runs and Theo Talbott a hit, a run and two RBIs.

Thomas struck out one and allowed no earned runs in 2⅔ innings of relief with Chase Holtzapple following, recording the final four outs, striking out two.

Richard Hill led the Hornets (3-7, 1-4) with two hits, a run and an RBI, and Brady Pennington added two hits, including a double, and an RBI, Kaleb Ribbing a hit and two runs and Timo Martin a hit and two RBIs. Johnny Morgan struck out four and allowed no earned runs in 3⅓ innings of relief.

Lakewood beats Northridge

Peyton Tichenor totaled two hits, a run and three RBIs, leading Lakewood to a 15-1 victory against visiting Northridge in LCL-Cardinal play.

Carson Anderson and Colton Ferry added a hit and three runs apiece with Anderson also knocking in two, and Garrett Hardway doubled, scored twice and drove in a run for the Lancers (9-2, 5-1). Tichenor struck out three in three three-hit innings.

Braxton Ankrom had a hit and a run for the Vikings (1-13, 0-6). Braden Yoder added a hit and a walk.

Liberty wins at home

Jackson Cecil piled up three hits, two runs and an RBI out of the leadoff spot, igniting Liberty Christian in a 6-1 victory against visiting Northside Christian in Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League play.

Luke Mollohan added two hits, two runs and an RBI, James Rainier a hit, a run and an RBI and Caleb Windle a double and an RBI for the Eagles (3-3, 2-3). Mollohan also struck out nine in 3 2/3 hitless innings.

GCA picks up home win

Bentley Johnson’s three hits, one run and two RBIs fueled Granville Christian in an 8-2 victory against visiting Delaware Christian in MOCAL play.

Johnson also struck out seven and allowed one earned run in five innings for the Lions (5-3, 3-1). Noah Tice added a hit and two RBIs, Aidan Rhoads three runs and Jake Fabbro and Gabe White a run and an RBI apiece.

Johnstown drops home game

Braeden Archibald notched two hits and an RBI for Johnstown in a 10-2 loss to visiting Amanda-Clearcreek.

Landon Myers doubled and Caiden Scholl singled and walked for the Johnnies (3-5).

NC wins on road

Mikey Hess and Miller Hutchison recorded three hits apiece, combining for five runs and two RBIs Wednesday in Newark Catholic’s 11-0 victory at Zanesville (1-8, 0-6) in LCL play.

Bryan McAnally added two hits and two RBIs and Troy Johnston a triple and three RBIs for the Green Wave (5-5, 3-3). Hutchison struck out three in two innings.

SOFTBALL

Valley beats Heights

Taylor Penick hit two home runs, knocking in three, powering Licking Valley to a 7-3 victory against visiting Licking Heights in LCL-Buckeye play.

Abbe McNabb added two hits, including a double, a run and an RBI, D’Neya Dennis two hits and two runs, Chloe Cooperider two hits and a run and Hailey Small and Rylee Pitt a hit and an RBI apiece for the Panthers (7-5, 4-2). Tori Baughman struck out six and allowed one earned run in a five-hitter.

Lydia Rauch and Alissa West each doubled and scored with Rauch also singling for the Hornets (5-6, 2-4). Ava Von Bargen added a hit, a run and an RBI.

NC blanks Northridge

Emma Lohri, Avery Nagel and Joanna Bailey each went 3 for 3, combining for six runs and three RBIs in Newark Catholic’s 11-0 victory against visiting Northridge in LCL-Cardinal play.

Kylie Gibson added a home run, Kami Diaz two hits, three runs and an RBI and Veronica Bailey two hits and two RBIs for the Green Wave (10-5, 5-3). Veronica Bailey and Jahni Whitney combined to strike out seven in a five-inning two-hit shutout.

Camryn Moore and Gracie Smith each singled for the Vikings (2-9, 0-6).

Newark nipped

A run in the bottom of the seventh inning for Reynoldsburg (5-10, 2-4) sent Newark to a 9-8 defeat in OCC-Buckeye play.

Amora Spring totaled two hits, two runs and three RBIs to lead the Wildcats (6-8, 3-3). Lillyana Holmes added two hits and two runs and Tyana Spears a hit, a run and an RBI and Paige Simons and Lauren Queen a hit and a run apiece.

BOYS TENNIS

Watkins still unbeaten

Victories in the third for Graham Smith (5-7, 6-2, 6-2) at No. 2 singles and Wyatt Meade and Will Stought (7-5, 2-6, 6-4) at No. 2 doubles gave Watkins Memorial a 3-2 victory against visiting DeSales.

Liam Grennan (6-1, 6-0) also won at No. 1 singles for the unbeaten Warriors (9-0).

Newark sweeps

Trever Anderson and Layton Shaner earned a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 1 doubles to seal Newark’s 5-0 victory at Groveport in OCC-Buckeye play.

Noah Devries and Brody Brent won 6-0, 6-4 at No. 2 doubles for the Wildcats (4-1, 2-0). Will Woughter, Evan Devries and Amari Rembert each won singles matches without a dropping a game.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark Wildcats baseball stays hot, sets up showdown with Lancaster