The second-seeded Houston baseball team faces No. 1 Licking (#6 in the state) in the Class 3 District 9 championship game at 4 p.m Wednesday at Tiger Field in Houston.
Follow this post for live play-by-play from the game:
T7 – Licking wins
Griffin Aaron and Tucker Venn hit singles to give Tigers life, but reliever Parker Huff comes in and gets a flyout and two strikeouts to win the district championship.
B6 – Fielding woes hurt Tigers
With one out and a man on second, an error in left field scores one for Licking. Aaden Scantlin forced to leave the game with two outs due to the 105-pitch limit. Licking adds another on an RBI double off of freshman Griffin Aaron. Licking 5-0
T6 – Tigers held scoreless
Jasper McCloy draws a one-out walk, but the courtesy runner is stranded on a hard-hit lineout to left field by Blake Sanders and infield popup to second base by Knox McCloy. Licking 3-0
B5 – Licking goes down quiet
Aaden Scantlin gets two groundouts on each side of a great catch in center by Stryker Sloan to get Licking’s 1, 2 and 3-hole hitters down in order. Licking 3-0
T5 – 7 straight batters retired
Houston goes down 1-2-3, with Licking’s Trent Wood retiring 7 straight Houston batters now. Licking 3-0
B4 – Scantlin strands runners
A dropped infield popup, a perfectly placed bunt single and a wild pitch put runners on second and third for Licking with no outs. Scantlin got two infield groundouts and a weak popup to end the inning. Licking 3-0
T4 – Tigers go down 1-2-3
Licking’s Trent Wood makes quick work of the Tigers’ 5, 6 and 7-hole hitters, with a groundout and two lineouts. Licking 3-0
B3 – Licking strikes first
With the bases loaded, two outs and two strikes, Licking’s 3-hole hitter Jason Ingram hits a 3-run double to clear the bases. Licking 3-0
T3 – Tigers leave two runners on base
With two outs, Scantlin hits a line drive single to right-center field and steals second. Jasper McCloy works a 3-0 count before Licking intentionally walks him to put runners on first and second. Blake Sanders hits a flyout to center to strand two. 0-0
B2 – Scantlin makes quick work of batters
Senior Aaden Scantlin went three up, three down against Licking’s 4, 5 and 6 hitters, getting two strikeouts. 0-0
T2 – Back-to-back strikeouts strand runner
With one out, freshman Griffin Aaron walked and advanced to third on a pickoff error from Licking pitcher Trent Wood. Tucker Venn and Ethan Carter struck out looking to end the threat. 0-0
B1 – Double play ends inning
A 6-4-3 double play from Licking’s 3-hole hitter Jason Ingram ends the inning. Scantlin got a flyout to center and let up a walk before the big play. 0-0
T1 – Tigers can’t convert baserunners
After leadoff hitter Stryker Sloan lined out to second on the first pitch of the game, senior Aaden Scantlin worked a full-count walk and stole second base. He was thrown out advancing to third on a fielder’s choice by Jasper McCloy. A deep flyout by Blake Sanders to center ended the inning without a run. 0-0
Early start
Both teams have taken the field and the game looks to be starting ahead of the scheduled 4 p.m. first pitch.
Today’s HHS lineup
- Stryker Sloan, cf
- Aaden Scantlin, p
- Jasper McCloy, c
- Blake Sanders, 1b
- Knox McCloy, ss
- Griffin Aaron, 2b
- Tucker Venn, 3b
- Ethan Carter, dh (Gage Smith in rf)
- Jackson Morgan, lf
Today’s Licking lineup
- Karson Walker, ss
- Easton Stoops, 2b
- Jason Ingram, c
- Conway Adey, 1b
- Logan Buckner, 3b
- Jett Sullins, cf
- Trent Wood, p
- Parker Huff, rf
- Isaac Rinne, lf
Diamond Tigers championship history
Houston baseball has won 2 district championships in recent history: 2019 and 2023. Brent Hall, who has over 400 career wins with the program, coached both teams.
