MINERVA, OH — The Minerva Lions baseball program is heading into uncharted territory. Following a historic Friday night performance on May 29, 2026, where the Lions defeated the Cambridge Bobcats 8-2 to claim the first-ever District Championship in school history, Minerva has officially punched its ticket to the OHSAA Regional Tournament Sweet 16.
The Lions wasted no time setting the tone in the district final, getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning when Owen Frazier reached base and was driven home by a Braydon Wood RBI single. Though Cambridge answered with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame, Minerva reclaimed a 2-1 lead in the second after Cole Sivy ripped a double and came around to score on an RBI single by Parker Linkous.
Minerva blew the game open late, adding a run in the fifth, two in the sixth, and three in the seventh, capitalizing on Cambridge mistakes while consistently putting together quality at-bats throughout the lineup. Senior pitcher Lane Tarbet delivered a championship-caliber performance on the mound, throwing a complete 7-inning game, scattering hits, and allowing just one earned run while striking out the final batter to secure the final out and send the Lions into celebration mode. Coach Richeson noted that Lane was tremendous on the mound, the defense made the plays behind him, and the hitters stayed disciplined to take advantage of opportunities, resulting in a complete team effort.
The Sweet 16 Matchup: Edison vs. Minerva
The #8 seed Minerva Lions now turn their attention to a Sweet 16 showdown against the #3 seed Edison Wildcats.
When: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM First Pitch
Where: Mazeroski Field (Harrison Central), 43000 Industrial Park Rd, Cadiz, OH 43907
Tickets: $12 for Adults, $5 for Students. It is highly recommended that fans buy their tickets online in advance.
The Road to State
According to the regional tournament bracket, the stakes could not be higher. The winner of Tuesday's game between Minerva and Edison will advance to the Regional Final. That game will take place at Ohio University on Thursday, June 4th at 6:00 PM, where they will face the winner of the #7 Logan Elm vs. #1 Fairfield Union matchup for a spot in the State tournament.
Minerva fans are encouraged to make the trip to Cadiz this Tuesday to pack the stands at Mazeroski Field and keep this historic momentum rolling!