Columbiana state baseball semifinal to start around 2 p.m.

An early-morning rain shower has pushed back today's state semifinal baseball games by about an hour. Columbiana's Division IV game against Newark Catholic, which was scheduled to start at 1 p.m., will likely begin closer to 2 p.m.

Thursday's first game, also a Division IV state semifinal, was won by Fort Loramie in five innings over Toledo Ottawa Hills, 13-1. That game ended just after 1 p.m. and was originally scheduled to start at 10 a.m. before the rain shower.

As of 1:30 p.m., it was about 75 degrees in Columbus with sunny skies and no rain clouds in sight.

Columbiana (21-1) is making its first state appearance since 1981, while Newark Catholic (14-19), playing for its seventh state championship, will try to become the second team in the 83-year history of the tournament to win a state title with a losing record.

The state final will be played at 10 a.m. Saturday.