Darby and Orange capture Division I district baseball titles
One swing from Travis Yankovich was all the Hilliard Darby baseball team ended up needing in a Division I district final Wednesday against Gahanna Lincoln.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Yankovich’s two-run home run gave fourth-seeded Darby the lead in an 11-1, five-inning victory at Upper Arlington. The Panthers won their second consecutive district title and seventh overall.
“This means a lot,” Yankovich said. “These guys are a great group of guys. I love them. They’re my brothers. We grew up playing together and it’s just a blast.”
Darby (19-10) will play Grove City or Watterson in a regional semifinal next Thursday.
After allowing Adam Buerger’s RBI double in the first, Cooper Gilkerson shut down Gahanna the rest of the way, retiring the final 14 batters. He struck out six and walked none.
Olentangy Orange 7, Pickerington North 1
Led by pitcher Josh Tabor, Orange earned its first district title since 2021 and fourth overall by beating North at
Grove City.
The Pioneers (20-10) will play Olentangy Liberty or Desales in a Division I regional semifinal next Thursday.
Tabor allowed two hits, struck out 12 and walked two in a complete-game effort.
Cole Cahill hit a solo home run in the first and added a double and single to lead Orange’s eight-hit attack.
Division III: Columbus Academy 2, Utica 0
Sophomore pitcher Harmon Gouhin helped Academy capture its first district title since 2018 and eighth overall, allowing four hits while striking out three and walking three in a completegame effort at Beavers Field in Lancaster.
The Vikings (19-10) will play Toledo Ottawa Hills, Genoa Area, Archbold or Metamora Evergreen in a Division III regional semifinal next Thursday at Garrold Parratt Field in Hamler.
Division III: Heath 3, Fredericktown 1
The fifth-seeded Bulldogs (20-8) upset top-seeded Fredericktown (25-2) at Beavers Field and will play Waynesville in a regional semifinal next Thursday at Wright State.
—Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate