LIVE BLOG: Western Reserve 5, Hicksville 2, FINAL

Western Reserve (22-5) vs. Hicksville (19-10), 7 p.m.

OHSAA Division IV baseball state semifinal

FINAL: WR 5, HIC 2

Western Reserve is headed to its first state championship in school history. The Blue Devils will face Newark Catholic on Saturday.

7th: WR 5, HIC 2

Blue Devils are three outs away from state the title game. John Clegg in to close it out in bottom of the 7th with a three-run lead.

6th: WR 5, HIC 2

Ian Hames comes around from 2nd to score on RBI triple by Ryan Demsky. WR manager Ed Anthony could've sent Demsky for an inside the park HR, but it would've been close. Instead Larimer drives him in next at-bat. Blue Devils chase Wes Perry with runners still on 2nd and 3rd with two outs. In the bottom half, Walker Marlowe relieved Larimer on the hill. After allowing a two base runners, Clegg threw out a runner at home. Then, with two outs, Marlowe threw the ball away trying to record the final out at first base. The error allowed two runs to score.

5th: WR 3, HIC 0

Larimer with three more strikeouts in the fifth inning. He's now at 10 for the game on 88 pitches. He's in a groove.

4th: WR 3, HIC 0

A big two-run triple from John Clegg scored Jeep DiCiccio and Jake Clark to give the Blue Devils the lead. Evan Nesbitt then drove in Clegg to put Western Reserve up 3-0. Blue Devils sent eight batters to the plate in the top half of the inning. After struggling with his command and walking the first batter in the bottom half, Larimer strikes out the side.

3rd: WR 0, HIC 0

Ian Hames singled and Ryan Demsky walked to give the Blue Devils their first base runners. But Hicksville CF Jonny Giesige saved at least one run with a diving grab to rob Larimer. The Western Reserve pitcher responded by retiring the Aces in order for the second inning in a row.

2nd: WR 0, HIC 0

Another quick inning at the plate for the Blue Devils. Aces' Perry has needed just 17 pitches to get through two innings. In the bottom half, Larimer send Hicksville down in order.

1st inning: WR 0, HIC 0

Western Reserve goes down in order in the top half of the inning. Hicksville gets two seeing-eye singles with two outs, but Larimer gets a fly out to end the inning.

Pre-game:

Sophomore Wyatt Larimer is on the mound for Western Reserve. Junior Wes Perry will get the ball for Hicksville. First pitch coming up.