Waynedale Advances to State Finals with Confident Victory

CANTON — In a pivotal moment during the Division V state semifinal matchup at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium on Thursday, Waynedale found themselves trailing by one run in the third inning. However, the Golden Bears quickly regained their footing against Lucasville Valley, ultimately securing a 7-2 victory. This win marks Waynedale's fifth consecutive appearance in the state semifinals, enhancing their record to 29-3.

The defending champions now look forward to facing Gahanna Columbus Academy on June 12 in Akron, where they strive not only to defend their title but to achieve their fourth state championship in five years. “Our team 1 through 9 have great hitters and we adjust really well to pitchers,” noted Waynedale left fielder Cam Miller after the game. “We kind of knew his stuff and we prepared for it all week.”

Miller played a critical role, scoring the first run of the game and later tying it with an RBI double. His teammates also rose to the occasion, with centerfielder Hudson Barkman contributing an RBI single to put the Golden Bears ahead. Head coach Lucas Daugherty emphasized the team’s adaptability after facing starting pitcher Nolan Barnett, stating, “We watched video of him, so we knew what it was going to look like.”

Waynedale showcased their offensive strength, out-hitting Lucasville Valley 13-5. Cam Miller had a standout performance, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Jordan Miller, who pitched the game to victory, also contributed two RBIs, while Barkman added three to the scoreboard.

The Golden Bears demonstrated their aggressive base-running, capitalizing on the Indians’ defensive errors to keep the pressure high and extend innings. “We always try to put pressure there. We run hard,” said Cam, who later secured a critical strikeout to end an inning in the sixth. “That’s really an expectation there,” coach Daugherty added, emphasizing the importance of hustle in playoff games. “We tell the guys, leave it all out there.”

With their sights set on the championship, Cam Miller expressed the team's determination: “We’re definitely gonna let this win sink in but we’re not down yet. We’re hungry for more. We want to win it all.”