By Will Swary

DUBLIN- Junior right hander Casey Stanley went the distance and the offense took advantage of its opportunities as Olentangy Lewis Center advanced to their Division I district final.

In a scoreless top half of the 1st inning, Stanley struck out two and established his sharp 12-6 curveball, which he would use often throughout the game to keep the St. Charles hitters off balance.

The Olentangy offense would waste little time themselves in the bottom of the 1st inning when a leadoff walk to Christian Brett was followed by a single off the pitcher by Tyler McFarland, putting two runners on with no outs. A ball in the dirt would move the runners up a base, allowing Cincinnati commitment Woody Wallace to hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield for the game’s first run. Two back to back singles by Jacob Kaylor and Avery Moore  would score a run a piece, giving Olentangy a three to nothing lead after an inning of play.

St. Charles would respond quickly, scoring two runs of their own in the top of the 2nd inning. After loading the bases with two outs, leadoff hitter Calvin Flinders lined a hard single off the glove of the diving second baseman McFarland for two RBI.

Olentangy answered St. Charles two runs with a four spot in the bottom of the second inning. The Braves got started by loading the bases with no outs and giving Jacob Kaylor the chance to drive in more runs. Kaylor did not disappoint, lining a hard shot into centerfield for two more RBI. An early pitching change ended the day for St Charles starting pitcher Jonathan Ogden and brought in senior Joey Gilmore. Gilmore could not get out of the jam unscathed though, giving up a single to Avery Moore and a double to Will Brett for two more runs before the innings end.

St. Charles would score their final run in the top of the 3rd inning when they put across one on a botched double play turn. After the third though, Casey Stanley put it in cruise control, attacking hitters and allowing his defense to make some great plays behind him on his way to a complete game where he struck out four batters. Olentangy added two more insurance runs in the 5th on a series of passed balls, cruising their way to a 9-3 victory.

Lewis Center Olentangy will next play against No. 28 Gahanna Lincoln on Wednesday, May 15th at Ohio Wesleyan University; game time is 5:00pm.