Lancaster picks up a huge OCC win over Tigers and remains unbeaten

PICKERINGTON — Lancaster senior first baseman Kam Griffith gave the Golden Gales a huge boost by hitting a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the first inning against rival Pickerington Central on Friday, April 10. After losing a heartbreaker at Central a year ago, the pressure was there, but Griffith’s laser shot allowed the Gales to take a deep breath and relax. Each time the Tigers seemed to be gaining momentum, Lancaster always had an answer, and it was enough for the Gales to pull out a hard-fought 6-5 Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division victory.

Lancaster improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the OCC. More: Lancaster baseball coach Corey Conn sets program all-time wins record Junior pitcher Brody Broeckel gave the Gales a huge start on the mound as he went the distance, and Lancaster’s defense was outstanding the entire game, especially junior centerfielder Jack Pompey, who ran down several balls in the outfield. “It’s always hard to win on the road, and anytime you can get an OCC win on the road, it’s huge because you know you are going to have to earn it,” Lancaster coach Corey Conn said.

“I’m just proud of these guys. We had a lot of big moments throughout the game, and if a couple of them don’t go our way, it might have been a different outcome. It was nice to see us execute when we had to.

” While the Gales are unbeaten, Broeckel said the key has been staying even-keeled. “We lost a tough game against them last year, and it didn’t go the way we wanted, but for us, I think we do a great job of resetting every day and not getting too high or too low,” Broeckel said. Broeckel, who scattered eight hits, had one strikeout and one walk, said his job is much easier because of the defense he has behind him.