Northmor and Highland Set for Regional Baseball Showdowns on June 3

PLEASANT HILL — Northmor is gearing up for its second regional championship baseball game in history, just one day after a decisive semifinal victory. Coach Buck Workman expressed a simple strategy for his team: “We’re going to chill at the hotel and get some pizza and hopefully be ready to rock and roll tomorrow,” following their impressive 13-4 win over Dayton Christian on June 2 at Newton High School. The anticipation is palpable, with the game scheduled for 5 p.m. on June 3 in Newton, located about 20 minutes northwest of Dayton. The eighth-seeded Golden Knights (24-5) will face Fort Recovery (17-10), which is unranked but hails from the competitive Midwest Athletic Conference.

Workman noted that the team has arranged a late hotel checkout and plans to enjoy a leisurely lunch before heading back to the field a few hours before the game. The last time Northmor reached this stage, they emerged victorious, advancing to the state tournament in 1995.

The Knights faced a challenging start against Dayton Christian (14-13), allowing three runs in the first inning. However, senior All-Ohio pitcher Trevor Brubaker steadied the ship, giving up only four hits after that initial inning and striking out seven batters. Northmor struggled offensively for the first four innings, trailing 3-0, until they ignited their offense in the fifth. A series of hits, including a pivotal bases-clearing triple from Brady Chapman, turned the tide, leading to a seven-run seventh inning that sealed their win.

In addition to Chapman’s standout performance, which included three RBIs, several teammates contributed offensively. Brady Carr finished the game with three hits, while Brody Beck and Ethan Hinton each added two RBIs. Northmor’s resilience shone through as they capitalized on key moments to secure their spot in the final.

Meanwhile, Highland also advanced to the Division IV regional championship after defeating Millbury Lake 5-1 at Bowling Green State University the same day. Caleb Youngman shone on the mound, improving his record to 11-0 with a two-hit performance, supported by Zach Church, who contributed two RBIs. Highland will face Sandusky Perkins (22-5-1) at 5 p.m. on June 3, following Perkins' win over Van Wert in the other semifinal.