Fairview (26-3, No. 4 in Division VI in final OHSBCA poll) and Montpelier (19-5, tied for eighth in Division VII) are trying to keep their baseball seasons going as the duo travel across Ohio for regional semifinals.
Here’s a quick look at each matchup:
Fairview vs. Cincinnati Country Day
Fairview, which secured its first district crown since 2008, will take on Cincinnati Country Day (15-10) in a Division VI regional semifinal 5 p.m on Tuesday at Newton High School in Pleasant Hill.
The winner gets either Cincinnati Summit Country Day or Fort Recovery in a regional final 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Newton.
Fairview earned a 10-1 district semifinal win over Wayne Trace and got a 3-1 win over Lincolnview to claim the Napoleon district, while the Nighthawks toppled Sabina East Clinton 9-2 in a district semifinal and shut out Troy Christian 8-0 in a district final to claim the Versailles district.
Fairview, which broke the single-season program record in wins for a season, enters the contest winners of nine of their last 10 while the Nighthawks come in as winners of four of their last five.
Fairview features a starting pitching arsenal that includes Cole Mack, Anthony Singer and Elijah Arend while Arend also provides productivity offensively, as he recently set the school record for hits in a season with 52 hits total.
The Nighthawks, meanwhile, feature a starting rotation of Nate Paumier, Evan Robinson and Casey Newman as they will look to contain Fairview’s bats while key hitter Elijah Guttman will aim to do some damage offensively.
Montpelier vs. Miller City
Montpelier, which took home its second straight district title and sixth overall, will face Miller City (23-5, tied for second in Division VII) in a Division VII regional semifinal 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Bowling Green Carter Park.
The Locos, who beat Edon 7-3 in a district semifinal and defeated Edgerton 5-4 in walk-off fashion to win the Bryan District, enter the contest winners of seven of their last 10.
Miller City, meanwhile, beat Leipsic 2-0 in a district semifinal and toppled Kalida 5-1 in a district final to claim the Hamler District, and also enter the contest winners of seven of their last 10.
The winner will face either New Riegel or Minster in a regional semifinal 5 p.m. Thursday at the same location.
Montpelier will look to its 1-2 punch of either starter Wesley Hartsock and Kenneth Smeltzer to contain Miller City’s bats.
Hartsock, through 61 1/3 frames, has totaled 78 strikeouts, 28 walks, 35 hits and 23 runs (15 earned) with a 1.71 ERA and 10-1 record. He also leads the team offensively with a .370 batting average and has 24 RBIs and 29 runs.
Smeltzer, through 49 2/3 innings, has tallied 49 strikeouts, 17 walks, 22 runs (nine earned) and 34 hits with a 1.27 ERA and 4-0 record. Smeltzer also has .324 batting average with a team-high 25 RBIs with 24 runs.
Hayden Sharps (.307 batting average, 10 RBIs, 32 runs), Jaxon Stahler (.323, 18, 23) and CJ Fidler (.397, 18, 21) also look to provide some productivity of offense as the team is batting .313 overall.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, will look to either starter Andrew Weis or Jack Wenzinger to contain Montpelier’s bats on the bump while key hitter Brendan Barlage will look to do some damage offensively.
Weis and Barlage are also All-Putnam County League first-team selections, while Barlage was named PCL Player of the Year. Wildcats coach Dusty Pester was also named PCL Coach of the Year after Miller City won the league with a 6-1 mark.