At Long Last! Licking Valley Wins First Baseball State Title
AKRON, OH
There will only ever be one “first”. The 2025 Licking Valley baseball team knows that all to well now, after finally claiming it’s first state championship with a 1-0 win over University in Division III on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers already made history as regional champions with a 6-2 win over Circleville, just another notch in the belt of the soon to be state champions. Eight days, two games, and a lot of hard work led the Panthers to their historic victory, even if they weren’t feeling the pressure.
“There are a lot of people that think there will be pressure, but there’s not” said senior pitcher Evan Roberts. “I never thought this was going to happen before the season. My thoughts never went to state, but [I’m] just grateful to have this opportunity and complete it.”
In his final game donning his school’s blue and red, Evan Roberts saved one of his better performances for his final farewell. The senior went the distance, striking out eight Prepper batters while allowing just three hits in the win.
Runs at a premium in the final, and the Panthers had to take every opportunity they could. A fourth inning error allowed Adam West to score the game’s lone run. It was a team effort from the Panthers, despite having only four hits, half of which, coming from their star sophomore.
“We knew we had a lot of dudes coming back from last year, so we all harped on that a little bit” said sophomore shortstop Brody Rodgers. “You know, as soon as we won the LCL, we just knew we had a giant run coming from there.”
The leadoff hitter’s final line? Two for two at the plate, a hit by pitch, and two stolen bases to pace the Panthers.
Say what you will about the team on the field, but nothing happens without the community behind the newly crowned state champions.
Head coach Adam Arcuri stated, “Our community is awesome when it comes to athletics, awesome in general. I truly feel that once somebody got it done, regardless of sport, it was just going to raise the bar that much higher. Then we just start kicking down the door every year and that becomes a new expectation or standard.”
The legend of Licking Valley will live on from Akron, as the Panthers at long last, can call themselves state champions.
