Lancaster baseball claims OCC-Buckeye Division title with shutout win

NEWARK – After winning four consecutive conference championships, it almost felt like a rite of passage for the Lancaster baseball team. From 2018 to 2022 — minus the COVID year — the Golden Gales took home league title after league title. Then the heartbreak of coming so close year after year began to set in.

The Gales were on the cusp of winning but failed to finish the job. On Monday, May 11, Lancaster had another shot, and it came against none other than the Gales' rival Newark on the road. It wasn’t easy, but this time the Gales were not about to squander away another golden opportunity.

Thanks to outstanding pitching from junior Brody Broeckel, a stout defense that made every play, and flawless execution at the plate. Lancaster was able to scratch a pair of runs and made it stand in a 2-0 victory to give the Gales the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division championship. Lancaster avenged its only league loss against the Wildcats.

Monday’s match-up was a winner-take-all game with both teams entering with 12-1 league records. More: Carson Miller's no-hitter silences Canal Winchester dugout “I am extremely proud of these guys for finally breaking through,” Lancaster coach Corey Conn said. “We have been right there the last three years, and we had a couple of bounces that didn’t go our way, but this group came out and made things go our way.