'We've been very intentional this year,' Badin baseball returns to OHSAA state tournament

The week leading into the state baseball tournament can be stressful for any team that makes it that far.

Visits from local media, administrative prep and community engagements are just a few obligations that come with playing in the season's final weekend.

But with school out for the summer, the Badin Rams have been able to enjoy the week by hosting a youth camp every day before practice.

"I think it keeps us relaxed throughout the week. We're not worrying too much, and it keeps our mind off the big game," senior pitcher Max Kraemer said. "It's pretty special that they look up to us. I feel like that's what they want to do eventually, come to Badin and play baseball just like us."

Camp 2025! LET’S GO!!!! pic.twitter.com/ZhDGvr0fo1— Badin Baseball (@BadinBaseball) June 11, 2025

The Rams hope to see their younger counterparts in the stands at Akron's Canal Park at 10 a.m. Friday, June 13 when they take on Licking Valley in a Division III state semifinal.

Badin baseball has a deep history at the state tournament

The Rams are making their 16th appearance at the state tournament. They are one of the most decorated programs in the state with two championships and seven runner-up finishes.

Head coach Brion Treadway has been there for about half of the trips to Akron. He earned two wins in the 1996 state tournament as a player. This is his sixth time coaching the Rams in the final four. While they certainly have learned from past state tournaments, their focus isn't on the past, or beyond Friday's game.

"We've been very intentional this year, building on last year, just to live in the present moment," Treadway said. "We're focused on having the best practice of our life today, and then we're gonna wake up and have the best day ever at camp tomorrow, and then have the best practice ever."

This year is also 50th anniversary of Badin's first state tournament team, the 1975 state runner-up. Members of that team were recognized at a home game this season. It only seems right that the Rams are back in the final four.

"Just look what they started. Somebody had to be the first. Going up there all these years, you see teams that are making their first state appearance, and I guess you realize how fortunate we are and how successful we've been over the years," Treadway said.

Outscoring the opposition hasn't been a problem for Badin in the postseason

In four games, the Rams have outscored their opponents 47-4.

Badin has scored 10 or more runs in 14 games this season. All of those offensive outbursts have come after the Rams faced some of the best pitchers in the country during a trip to Florida in the first week of the season.

"It kind of put a lot of things in perspective when we came back that 88 to 91 wasn't fast anymore. I think it relaxed our hitters to know that they've competed against 92, 95, 99. We had a kid hit 99 (miles per hour) multiple times," Treadway said.

After playing at Canal Park last year and facing Springboro at Great American Ball Park about a month ago, Badin is focusing on hitting line drives to the gap instead of trying to lift fly balls over the fence.

They're also heeding the advice of former Cincinnati Reds pitcher and broadcaster Joe Nuxhall: "If you swing the bat, you're dangerous."

"Our goal is to never strike out. We want to make ourselves the hardest out and make the pitcher think a lot," Chandler Taylor said.

The Rams have struck out just 12 times in the postseason.

Scouting the Licking Valley Panthers

Ohio commit and DIII All-Ohio first team honoree Evan Lichtenauer is a big reason the Panthers are 21-6 this season. He is 10-0 with a 0.22 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 64 innings. He has only allowed two earned runs all season.

Friday's matchup will most likely pit Lichtenauer against Badin ace Caleb Driessen, who also made the DIII all-state first team.

While Kade Bowling and Cade Cummins also received all-state nods for the Rams, Lichtenauer is Licking Valley's only All-Ohio honoree. But Badin isn't taking the Panthers for granted. No team makes the state tournament by accident.

Licking Valley beat a formidable Bishop Watterson team in the regional semifinals and has only allowed four runs in the postseason.

"They're going to be tough. Other than that, I don't know a ton. I've seen some video and their stats and things like that, but I expect a battle," Treadway said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Badin baseball to face Licking Valley in Division III state tournament