Licking 11, Houston 0
The Houston High School baseball team’s 2025 season ended without a run on Tuesday in the Class 3 District 9 semifinals against top-seeded Licking.
Houston – considered the away team despite the game being played at Tiger Field – put pressure on the Wildcats in the first inning. Junior Aaden Scantlin ripped a single down the third base line to start the game before stealing second and third with one out. But the Tigers couldn’t capitalize, after a strikeout and pop out stranded Scantlin.
In the bottom of the inning, with Scantlin pitching, the first two runners reached base on a hit by pitch and a fielding error. With runners on second and third with one out, Licking managed to score one on a ground out to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats added to their lead in the second inning, scoring 5 runs on only two hits, thanks to two errors, a walk and a hit by pitch. In the third inning, 5 more runs were added on 5 hits, a walk and an error to extend the lead to 11-0.
Houston never managed to get the bats going in the 5-inning run-rule game, striking out 7 times and only managing 3 hits.
On Wednesday, Licking defeated second-seeded Thayer 8-0 to advance to sectionals. They will face Class 3 District 10 champion Fair Grove on Tuesday (May 27).
The Diamond Tigers finished the season with an 11-13 record, going 3-4 in South Central Association (SCA) conference play. The game was the last for seniors Caiden Root, Shaun Buck, Kolby Sisco, John Jordan and Javon Ross.
“We ended the year winning five out of our last six games,” said HHS head coach Brent Hall. “We had our struggles this year but this group kept working and found a way to play some of their best baseball by the end of their season. These seniors were a big part of that. They embodied working until the end and I can’t thank them enough for that effort and what they’ve done during their time in the program. They made me a better person by coaching them.”
In 2025, Buck led all Houston pitchers with a 1.7 ERA in 53.2 innings pitched and 84 strikeouts. Scantlin led the team with 34 hits, walking 10 times and only striking out twice in 86 plate appearances.
Pitching:
- Aaden Scantlin (Jr.) – 4 IP, 7 H, 11 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 4 K
Offense:
- Aaden Scantlin (Jr.) – 2-for-3, 2 SB
- John Jordan (Sr.) – 1-for-2
