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By Jordan Chiero
PBR Ohio Scouting Director

We look to bring the Buckeye state top-notch high school coverage throughout the entire state.

We will have the 2016 Scout Blog, Spotlight Games, Inside the Recruitment Articles, Unsigned Senior Spotlights, The Recruiting Trail, All-State Selections, Full Coverage of the OHSAA State Tournament as well as numerous other articles throughout the spring.

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For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2016 spring season visit the 2016 Ohio Scout Blog by clicking here.

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Ohio Spotlight Game: #3 Westerville Central vs #10 Hilliard Darby

Westerville Central – In a Ohio Capital Conference - Cardinal Division match-up the Hilliard Darby Panthers traveled to Westerville Central to take on the Warhawks. This matchup has been much anticipated over the past few weeks as both teams have emerged as two of Central Ohio’s finest.

On this day, the Warhawks were able to get the best of the Panthers by a score of 6-0, behind a shutout from Ohio State commit Gavin Lyon.

The Warhawks got on the board early as Wright State commit, Daniel Kreuzer started a 1st inning rally with a two out double down the right field line. He was quickly brought home as junior Tate Skipton laced a line drive to right field for a single.

Hilliard Darby’s senior LHP Christopher Schultz did a good job throughout the game of staying away from the big inning, however the Warhawks were able to consistently get runners into scoring position and slowly put numbers on the board. In the 2nd inning the Warhawks used small ball to push another run across.

Jalen Arms drew a walk and after Darby couldn’t handle a Riley Bullock sac bunt the Warhawks had two runners on with no outs. Evan ingram then advanced the runners through another sac bunt before Davis Kallio executed a beautiful safety squeeze to score Arms and make the score 2-0.

The Warhawks widened the lead in the 4th as they were able to get one across with the bases loaded and two outs as Kreuzer came to the plate. Westerville Central’s staff showed confidence in Kreuzer by giving him the green light on a 3-0 count and Kreuzer took advantage by getting a two RBI single to make the score 5-0.

The Warhawks added another in the 6th to make it 6-0 which was much more than senior RHP Gavin Lyon needed on this day.

Lyon went the distance while striking out eight Panther hitters, showing why he is considered one of the top prospects in the state.

Lyon displayed command of all three of his pitches with a much improved changeup since the last time we saw him. Darby didn’t look completely over matched however, as they were able to mount of a few rallies and barrel up multiple balls right at Warhawk defenders.

Senior, Walsh commit Luke Miller had an especially unlucky day at the plate as he squared up the ball in all three at bats with nothing to show for it.

Also standing out at the plate for the Panthers was junior Cory Brooks. Brooks has emerged as one of the top RHPs in the state but on this day his bat was impressive. In two of his at bats he brought the Darby fans to their feet as he narrowly missed putting the ball over the fence, and laced a ball to right field for his one hit of the game.

The win improved Westerville Central to 16-3 on the season and the loss moves Hilliard Darby to 17-3.