Newark's Brody Randall dominates rival Lancaster in key baseball victory

LANCASTER – Even though he is only a sophomore, Newark’s Brody Randall gets it when it comes to playing heated-rival Lancaster. The stakes couldn’t have been any higher on Thursday, April 23, with first place in the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division on the line. Both teams came in 6-0 in the conference.

Randall was forced into duty because the game started on Wednesday, April 22, but was suspended because of rain in the bottom of the second inning with the Golden Gales leading 2-1. In the biggest start of his young career, Randall was outstanding. He was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the second inning and then proceeded to keep the Lancaster hitters off balance the next three-plus innings by not allowing a hit.

Randall would eventually watch his pitch count rise and was relieved in the sixth inning, and while the Gales rallied, it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats held on for a 6-5 victory at England Field. Their celebration after the game showed how much the rivalry meant. More: Lancaster's Brayden Montgomery makes unselfish switch for team It was Newark’s ninth consecutive win as the Wildcats improved to 11-1 overall while the Gales slipped to 10-3.

“I was on the team last year as a freshman, and I felt the vibes of this rivalry,” Randall said. “I play football, and it’s the same vibe. We have beaten them two years in a row in football, we owned them in basketball, and now baseball.