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The Athens Bulldogs return to the diamond and on 970WATH Thursday afternoon when they take on the St. Clairsville Red Devils in a D2 regional semi-final at Bob Wren Stadium in Athens. Sophomore Peyton Gail hit a game winning walk off 2-run double in the bottom of the 9th inning to lead Athens to a thrilling 5-4 win over Warren last week. The win was the Bulldogs third district championship in 4 years as they now set their sights on a possible trip to the state tournament at Canal Park in Akron. Thursday’s D2 Regional semi-final between Athens and St. Clairsville and can be heard live on 970WATH & 97.1FM or 970wath.com with pregame at 1:45 and first pitch at 2:00.

Will the games be moved back with the bad storm coming through today?

DIVISION II - ATHENS REGIONAL
No. 8 Steubenville vs No. 20 Licking Valley
No. 17 Athens vs St. Clairsville
Region Overview: Going should get tougher for Steubenville which has run-ruled three opponents by a combined 41-3. Fifth-seeded Licking Valley knocked off the top two seeds in its last two games to advance to regional. Athens trying to end 91-year regional title drought against unranked St. Clairsville team that won district finals 13-3.

For Fun Prediction:

Dylan Hefflinger:

Steubenville over Licking Valley
Athens over St. Clairsville
REGIONAL CHAMP - Steubenville
Fan Vote:

???
???
REGIONAL CHAMP - ???
STEUBENVILLE
Record: 24-6
Final Ranking: No. 8
Preseason Ranking: No. 12
Highest Ranking: No. 8 - Final
Postseason History:

Regional title would be third in last four years
Seeking eighth appearance in state tourney
Team Stats:

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Top Players:

???
Coach's Thoughts: No information provided.

LICKING VALLEY
Record: 22-8
Final Ranking: No. 20
Preseason Ranking: NR
Highest Ranking: No. 20 - Final
Postseason History:

No Licking Valley team has ever won regionals
Top Players:

Chase Whisner, SS/RHP, Sr. (9-0)
Logan White, 3B/RHP, Sr. (3-1)
Logan Baker, LF, Sr.
Joey Chapman, 1B, Sr.
Brayden Sartin, C, Sr.
Logan Bragg, LHP, Jr. (8-2)
Connor Buxton, DH, Jr.
Chandler Zimmerman, RF, So.
Devin McConnell, 2B, So.
Bodee Creech, CF, So.
Brandon Bishop, LHP, So.
Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: Team chemistry, have bought in to the we over me concept

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won districts?
Coach: It was a great feeling, it had been far too long so I was happy for our players, school district, and community.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the regionals?
Coach: Looking forward to continuing to playing against some of the best teams in the state that are representing their respective districts.



ATHENS
Record: 21-7
Final Ranking: No. 17
Preseason Ranking: No. 33
Highest Ranking: No. 17 - Final
Postseason History:

Lone regional title by Athens came in 1928
Team Stats:

.318 AVG, 215 R
1.34 ERA, 129 Ks
Top Players:

Nick Barga, LF, Senior
Andrew Stephens, 2B, Junior
Nate Trainer, SS/P, Junior (7-0)
Rece Lonas, RF/DH, Junior
Jack Cornwell, P/RF, Junior (6-1)
Eli Kennedy, 1B/P, Senior (1-0, 1 save)
Carson Baker, C, Junior
Reece Wallace, 3B/P, Junior (4-1, 3 saves)
Aiden Kostival 3B/DH, Junior
Peyton Gail, CF, Sophomore
ST. CLAIRSVILLE
Record: 18-10
Final Ranking: NR
Preseason Ranking: NR
Highest Ranking: NR
Postseason History:

Seeking third regional crown ever, the others coming in 1938 and 1997
Regional qualifier in 2011, 2012
Top Players:

Matthew Busby (SS) Senior
Kyle Storer (RHP) Senior
Peyton Drake (LF) Senior
Jacob Jarvis (C) Senior
Will Balgo (1B) Sophomore
John Luke DeFilippo (2B) Junior
Derek Witsberger (RF/RHP) Junior
Tyler Tonkovich (3B/RHP) Sophomore
Cade Wolfe (CF) Junior
Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: We are playing well and gelling at the right time.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won districts?
Coach: Our players and coaches were extremely excited. All of our hard work that started in January had paid off.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the regionals?
Coach: Since it has only happened 7-8 times in school history, we are extremely happy to be able to represent St. Clairsville in the Regionals

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the regional?
Coach: Obviously this is a very strong field, where we feel we are the under-dog and have to play extremely well, and have some good fortune to advance.

So far, so good.

Game at 2PM

Top of 3rd
St.C -1
Athens-0
Rain delay

4-0 after 3 and a half.

6 to 0 bottom of the sixth

6 - 2 going to the 7th

Made zero sense to play this game in the pouring down rain. Could have just moved it back until 5pm. St Clairsville was the better team but seemed odd not to move it back.

Good season by my dogs. We lose Kennedy and Barga. Both have had great careers. Hopefully we get back to regionals again next year

St Clairsville 9
Athens 2
Final

Congrats Athens on an outstanding season.

Raider6309 wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 5:34 pm Made zero sense to play this game in the pouring down rain. Could have just moved it back until 5pm. St Clairsville was the better team but seemed odd not to move it back.

Good season by my dogs. We lose Kennedy and Barga. Both have had great careers. Hopefully we get back to regionals again next year

St Clairsville 9
Athens 2
Final

Want some whine with that cheese? You seem like a great arm chair QB at all turns. If St C was the better team then why even put any other information in your post

thebarlowbandit wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 10:46 pm

Raider6309 wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 5:34 pm Made zero sense to play this game in the pouring down rain. Could have just moved it back until 5pm. St Clairsville was the better team but seemed odd not to move it back.

Good season by my dogs. We lose Kennedy and Barga. Both have had great careers. Hopefully we get back to regionals again next year

St Clairsville 9
Athens 2
Final

Want some whine with that cheese? You seem like a great arm chair QB at all turns. If St C was the better team then why even put any other information in your post

I think the phrase is actually "Cheese with that whine...." Just saying..... I mean he wasn't presenting a stance as to him holding a block of cheese that would need a whiny person added to it; it was more of the whining coming first....no?

Great season Dawgs , most of the roster returns. I expect another playoff run.

St Clairsville beats Steubenville 4-2 to win the region. Hopefully they win state

Logangrad wrote: ↑Fri May 31, 2019 9:19 am

thebarlowbandit wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 10:46 pm

Raider6309 wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 5:34 pm Made zero sense to play this game in the pouring down rain. Could have just moved it back until 5pm. St Clairsville was the better team but seemed odd not to move it back.

Good season by my dogs. We lose Kennedy and Barga. Both have had great careers. Hopefully we get back to regionals again next year

St Clairsville 9
Athens 2
Final

Want some whine with that cheese? You seem like a great arm chair QB at all turns. If St C was the better team then why even put any other information in your post

I think the phrase is actually "Cheese with that whine...." Just saying..... I mean he wasn't presenting a stance as to him holding a block of cheese that would need a whiny person added to it; it was more of the whining coming first....no?

No, he’s cheesy with 99.9% of his post.

St Clairsville will probably take on Gilmour Academy

Raider6309 wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 5:34 pm Made zero sense to play this game in the pouring down rain. Could have just moved it back until 5pm. St Clairsville was the better team but seemed odd not to move it back.

Good season by my dogs. We lose Kennedy and Barga. Both have had great careers. Hopefully we get back to regionals again next year

St Clairsville 9
Athens 2
Final

Raider of the lost Art