Warriors' tourney trail has familiar obstacle
To build a deep run, the Lebanon baseball team will have to eliminate Northmont once again.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Lee Day is hoping history will repeat itself next week when the Lebanon High School baseball team enters Division I sectional tournament play.
The Warriors, who were awarded the No. 4 seed in the Dayton sectional, open Monday, May 12, at home against 10th-seeded Trotwood-Madison. Should they win, the Warriors (14-7) would then travel to top-seed Northmont on Wednesday. Lebanon eliminated Northmont last year when the Thunderbolts were the sectional's No. 2 seed.
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"My goal at the tournament draw was to stay away from a team with a dominating pitcher. The two teams with that kind of pitching — Springboro and Beavercreek — are in the other bracket," Day said.
"We feel like we can compete with the other teams in the bracket if we play well."
While the Warriors got to choose their destiny somewhat by virtue of getting a high seed, Waynesville didn't have that luxury in the Division III tournament draw.
The Spartans (3-17) were seeded ninth in the 10-team Dayton sectional and will open play at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, against No. 3 seed Fenwick.
"We didn't have much choice. It was either top-seeded Badin or Fenwick," Waynesville coach Brandon Philpot said.
"Fenwick is a strong team, and they'll be a tough matchup, but we shouldn't have to face their top pitcher as they'll probably save him for the sectional finals on Friday. So if our kids come to play and work hard in preparation for the game, then hopefully we can stay in the game and you never know what will happen."
Admission to all tournament games is $5.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4526 or shayes@coxohio.com.
