HOWARD — The Bulldogs will welcome small-school baseball royalty to town.
Fourth-seeded East Knox will host No. 6 Newark Catholic in a Division III district semifinal baseball game at 5 p.m. Monday. The Green Wave rank second all-time in state tournament appearances (17) and state championships (9).
Newark Catholic’s most recent state tournament appearance came in 2022. The Green Wave last won a state title in 2016, capping a run of three crowns and one runner-up finish in four seasons.
East Knox (19-4) advanced to this week’s district tournament with a pair of sectional victories.
The Bulldogs thumped No. 26 Columbus International 19-1 in the sectional semifinals and dispatched No. 5 Grandview Heights 3-0 in the sectional championship game. Pitcher Bryar Householder allowed two hits and struck out 14 in the sectional final victory.
Newark Catholic (13-12) punched its ticket to this week’s district with a 12-2 win over No. 14 Cardington 12-2 in the sectional final. The Green Wave have won four in a row and six of seven since the start or May.
The county’s only other sectional survivor was Mount Vernon. The fifth-seeded Yellow Jackets will host No. 13 Olentangy Liberty at 5 p.m. Tuesday in a district semifinal game.
Mount Vernon (20-4) blanked No. 35 Logan 7-0 in the sectional final. Pitcher Konner Daughriety fired a two-hitter and struck out eight.
Olentangy Liberty (17-11) beat Delaware Hayes 2-0 in the sectional final. The Patriots have won six straight and eight of nine.