HISTORIC RUN: Minerva Lions Head to Sweet 16 After First-Ever District Championship
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!
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!
Regional Baseball Information
Tues 6/2/26
1:00 PM First Pitch
🏆🎟️ OHSAA State Championship Bound!
It’s a Great Day to be a Minerva Lion! 🦁🔥
Not one, but TWO School Records for Owen Shick! 🎟️🥊
🏃♂️ Owen Shick punched his ticket to the OHSAA State Meet in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while setting two new school records! 🔥🙌
🏃♂️ Rowen Hoffee earned his ticket to the State Meet in the 1600-meter run and as a member of the 4x800 relay! 💥🦁🙌
🏃♀️ Tateum Richard is State Championship Bound in both the 800-meter run and as a member of the 4x800 relay! ❤️🔥🦁
Congratulations Lions! 🦁
#MinervaPride
Regional finals today 🦁
Athletes competing:
Owen Shick: 100 & 200
Rowen Hoffee: 1600,800
Tyson Fetty: 1600
Anderson Scott: 800
4x2 relay: Linkous, Kirkpatrick, Blum, Shick
Landon Frankford: shot put
Tateum Richard: 800
Addison Keyser: 1600
Gracie Momirov-Dierick: 400
🦁⚾️ MHS Varsity Baseball Makes History – District Champions! ⚾️🦁
It is a Great Day to be a Minerva Lion!
The AMAZING Minerva Lions are District Champions after an impressive 8-2 victory over Cambridge! 🎉🏆
Congratulations to our players, coaches, and supporters on this historic achievement. The Lions continue their incredible postseason run and make Minerva proud!
Go Lions! 🦁
#MinervaPride
Friday 5/29/26
OHSAA D4 District Baseball Tournament at Harrison Central
Tournament Information
Game Starts at 5:00 PM
OHSAA D4 District Baseball Tournament at Harrison Central
Tournament Information
Game Starts at 5:00 PM
🦁 It is a Great Day to be a Minerva Lion! 🎟️ OHSAA State Championship Tickets Punched!
⭐️ Our Boys 4x800 Team of Owen Yoder, Tyson Fetty, Anderson Scott & Rowen Hoffee 🥊 their 🎟️ to the State Meet!
⭐️ Our Girls 4x800 Team of Makenzie Beavers, Addison Keyser, Tateum Richard & Charlie Galley 🥊 their 🎟️ to the OHSAA State Meet! 🎉💥💪🦁
⭐️ Kenzie Beavers qualified in the 3,200 Meter Run! 🎟️ 🦁
⭐️ Several Minerva athletes also qualified for Saturday Finals! Go Lions! 🦁 #MinervaPride
It’s a Great Day to be a Minerva Lion! 🦁⚾️
Minerva defeats rival Carrollton 1-0 in the District Semifinals! The Lions battled hard and punched their ticket to the District Championship Game!
Minerva will face Cambridge this Friday at Harrison Central High School.
Go Lions! 🦁 #MinervaPride
📸 Jordan Miller News
Important Schedule Change Information! Tonight's tournament baseball game has been moved to tomorrow, 5/28. We will still play at Carrollton at 5pm. Go, Lions! #MinervaPride
Due to scheduling conflicts, our Spring Sports Awards can no longer be held in person. We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes for their hard work, dedication, and achievements this season! It has been an amazing Spring Sports Season for the Lions!
This year’s Spring Sports Awards are being presented virtually by the Lion News Network (LNN). Coaches will share information on team-specific end-of-year banquet and celebration plans for their respective teams.
▶️ Watch the 2026 Spring Sports Awards Presentation Video Here: https://youtu.be/Mb0eqpJuI1Y
We truly appreciate your flexibility and understanding. Congratulations, Lions; we are proud of you!
Go Lions!
Best regards,
Garth Evans
Athletic Director
Minerva Local School District
Every Child, Every Minute, Every Day
This year’s Spring Sports Awards are being presented virtually by the Lion News Network (LNN). Coaches will share information on team-specific end-of-year banquet and celebration plans for their respective teams.
▶️ Watch the 2026 Spring Sports Awards Presentation Video Here: https://youtu.be/Mb0eqpJuI1Y
We truly appreciate your flexibility and understanding. Congratulations, Lions; we are proud of you!
Go Lions!
Best regards,
Garth Evans
Athletic Director
Minerva Local School District
Every Child, Every Minute, Every Day
⭐️ Minerva Lions Spring EBC First Team Awards Winners:
⚾ Baseball
Player of the Year: Braydon Wood
1st Team: Braydon Wood
🥎 Softball
1st Team: Rachel Weaver
🏃♂️ Boys Track & Field
Coach of the Year: Arin Rettig
Runner of the Year: Rowen Hoffee
1st Team: Owen Shick (100M Dash, 200M Dash)
Rowen Hoffee (1600M Run, 800M Run)
Owen Yoder (3200M Run)
Wyatt Gonzalez (High Jump)
Owen Yoder, Tyson Fetty, Anderson Scott, & Rowen Hoffee (4x800M Relay)
🏃♀️ Girls Track & Field
1st Team: Tateum Richard (800M Run)
Addison Keyser, Makenzie Beavers, Charlie Galley, & Tatum Richard (4x800M Relay)
Congratulations to all of our incredible student-athletes and coaches on an unforgettable spring season! Go Lions! 🦁
Wed 5/27/26
The Spring Awards Night at MHS on 5/27/26 is canceled due to the Baseball Tournament.
We will share the Virtual Banquet produced by LNN on Wed 5/27/26.
Unleash the Beast!!!
History Made! 🏆🦁
Congratulations to the Minerva Boys Track Team — the first OHSAA District Track Championship in school history!
An incredible accomplishment for our athletes and coaches!
Go Lions! 🦁
#MinervaPride
Minerva Pipeline: Simons and Brunner Punch Ticket to College World Series with Mount Union Softball!
ALLIANCE, OH — The University of Mount Union softball program is headed to its first-ever NCAA Division III College World Series!
The No. 12 nationally ranked Purple Raiders officially punched their ticket by sweeping UMass Dartmouth in a two-game NCAA Super Regional series, rallying for a 5-2 victory in game one and securing the clinch with a 4-1 win in game two.
A Historic Milestone for Coach Simons
At the helm of the Purple Raiders is Minerva Athletic Hall of Fame member Meghan Simons. Now in her 10th season as the head softball coach at Mount Union. This World Series berth marks a crowning achievement in her decade-long tenure leading the program.
Brunner Delivers the Climax
On the field, another Minerva graduate made sure the Purple Raiders closed the door on the Corsairs.
In the bottom of the sixth inning of game two, with Mount Union clinging to a narrow 2-1 lead, senior infielder and Minerva alum Lydia Brunner stepped to the plate with two runners on. Brunner crushed a clutch, two-RBI triple to deep center field, scoring freshman Isabella Thomas-Friend and Kaitlyn Culver.
The roaring hit extended the lead to 4-1, providing the definitive insurance runs the Raiders needed to close out the top of the seventh and spark a historic celebration on the diamond.
Brunner’s clutch hit is just another highlight in an outstanding senior campaign. She has accumulated 36 hits in 42 games this season, carrying a stellar .324 batting average into the national tournament.
What's Next
Simons, Brunner, and the rest of the Purple Raiders (35-7) will now travel to Salem, Virginia, to compete in the NCAA College World Series, which is scheduled to run from May 28 through June 3.
Minerva is incredibly proud of Coach Simons and Lydia Brunner! Best of luck at the World Series! Go Purple Raiders and Go Lions! 🦁🥎💜
ALLIANCE, OH — The University of Mount Union softball program is headed to its first-ever NCAA Division III College World Series!
The No. 12 nationally ranked Purple Raiders officially punched their ticket by sweeping UMass Dartmouth in a two-game NCAA Super Regional series, rallying for a 5-2 victory in game one and securing the clinch with a 4-1 win in game two.
A Historic Milestone for Coach Simons
At the helm of the Purple Raiders is Minerva Athletic Hall of Fame member Meghan Simons. Now in her 10th season as the head softball coach at Mount Union. This World Series berth marks a crowning achievement in her decade-long tenure leading the program.
Brunner Delivers the Climax
On the field, another Minerva graduate made sure the Purple Raiders closed the door on the Corsairs.
In the bottom of the sixth inning of game two, with Mount Union clinging to a narrow 2-1 lead, senior infielder and Minerva alum Lydia Brunner stepped to the plate with two runners on. Brunner crushed a clutch, two-RBI triple to deep center field, scoring freshman Isabella Thomas-Friend and Kaitlyn Culver.
The roaring hit extended the lead to 4-1, providing the definitive insurance runs the Raiders needed to close out the top of the seventh and spark a historic celebration on the diamond.
Brunner’s clutch hit is just another highlight in an outstanding senior campaign. She has accumulated 36 hits in 42 games this season, carrying a stellar .324 batting average into the national tournament.
What's Next
Simons, Brunner, and the rest of the Purple Raiders (35-7) will now travel to Salem, Virginia, to compete in the NCAA College World Series, which is scheduled to run from May 28 through June 3.
Minerva is incredibly proud of Coach Simons and Lydia Brunner! Best of luck at the World Series! Go Purple Raiders and Go Lions! 🦁🥎💜
Congratulations to Emily Lautzenheiser who will be cheering for D1 Ohio University this Fall. We wish you the best! #MinervaPride
Boys Track Rewrites History; Wood Makes Baseball History
The headline of the spring belongs to the Minerva Boys Track and Field team. After enduring a 45-year drought without a league title, the Lions have captured back-to-back EBC League Championships.
The championship run was heavily anchored by Rowen Hoffee, who was named the EBC Runner of the Year after taking first-team honors in both the 1600M and 800M runs, alongside a victory in the 4x800M relay. Coaching the repeat was Arin Rettig, who rightfully earned EBC Coach of the Year honors.
Over on the diamond, the Lions celebrated an unprecedented individual achievement. Braydon Wood became the first baseball player in Minerva history to be named the EBC League Player of the Year, securing his spot on the First Team after a spectacular season.
Full Minerva Lions Spring EBC Awards List
⚾ Baseball
Player of the Year: Braydon Wood
1st Team: Braydon Wood
2nd Team: Brennan Barnes
Honorable Mention: Lane Tarbet, Kaden Kandel
🥎 Softball
1st Team: Rachel Weaver
2nd Team: Natalie Essick, Delaney Sell, Kylie Hannen
Honorable Mention: Adriana Kashdan, Gabby Kashdan
🏃♂️ Boys Track & Field
Coach of the Year: Arin Rettig
Runner of the Year: Rowen Hoffee
1st Team: * Owen Shick (100M Dash, 200M Dash)
Rowen Hoffee (1600M Run, 800M Run)
Owen Yoder (3200M Run)
Wyatt Gonzalez (High Jump)
Owen Yoder, Tyson Fetty, Anderson Scott, & Rowen Hoffee (4x800M Relay)
2nd Team: * Caden Stewart (110M Hurdles)
Owen Yoder (1600M Run)
Honorable Mention: Nate Linkous, Sam Blum
🏃♀️ Girls Track & Field
1st Team: * Tateum Richard (800M Run)
Addison Keyser, Makenzie Beavers, Charlie Galley, & Tatum Richard (4x800M Relay)
2nd Team: * Carley Wolf (300M Hurdles)
Makenzie Beavers (3200M Run)
Honorable Mention: Gracie Momirov-Dierick, Autumn Thompson
Congratulations to all of our incredible student-athletes and coaches on an unforgettable spring season! Go Lions! 🦁
The headline of the spring belongs to the Minerva Boys Track and Field team. After enduring a 45-year drought without a league title, the Lions have captured back-to-back EBC League Championships.
The championship run was heavily anchored by Rowen Hoffee, who was named the EBC Runner of the Year after taking first-team honors in both the 1600M and 800M runs, alongside a victory in the 4x800M relay. Coaching the repeat was Arin Rettig, who rightfully earned EBC Coach of the Year honors.
Over on the diamond, the Lions celebrated an unprecedented individual achievement. Braydon Wood became the first baseball player in Minerva history to be named the EBC League Player of the Year, securing his spot on the First Team after a spectacular season.
Full Minerva Lions Spring EBC Awards List
⚾ Baseball
Player of the Year: Braydon Wood
1st Team: Braydon Wood
2nd Team: Brennan Barnes
Honorable Mention: Lane Tarbet, Kaden Kandel
🥎 Softball
1st Team: Rachel Weaver
2nd Team: Natalie Essick, Delaney Sell, Kylie Hannen
Honorable Mention: Adriana Kashdan, Gabby Kashdan
🏃♂️ Boys Track & Field
Coach of the Year: Arin Rettig
Runner of the Year: Rowen Hoffee
1st Team: * Owen Shick (100M Dash, 200M Dash)
Rowen Hoffee (1600M Run, 800M Run)
Owen Yoder (3200M Run)
Wyatt Gonzalez (High Jump)
Owen Yoder, Tyson Fetty, Anderson Scott, & Rowen Hoffee (4x800M Relay)
2nd Team: * Caden Stewart (110M Hurdles)
Owen Yoder (1600M Run)
Honorable Mention: Nate Linkous, Sam Blum
🏃♀️ Girls Track & Field
1st Team: * Tateum Richard (800M Run)
Addison Keyser, Makenzie Beavers, Charlie Galley, & Tatum Richard (4x800M Relay)
2nd Team: * Carley Wolf (300M Hurdles)
Makenzie Beavers (3200M Run)
Honorable Mention: Gracie Momirov-Dierick, Autumn Thompson
Congratulations to all of our incredible student-athletes and coaches on an unforgettable spring season! Go Lions! 🦁
Wed 5/20/26
JV BB is canceled
JV BB is canceled
Minerva Varsity Baseball wins big in Game One of the OHSAA Tournament! ⚾️🦁
Braydon Wood hurled five no-hit innings while the offense sparked multiple rallies to power the Lions to victory! Minerva advances and heads to Carrollton next Wednesday for the next tournament matchup!
Go Lions! 🦁
#MinervaPride
🏆 The Minerva Boys Track Team are EBC Champions!!! 🏆
Back-to-Back League Champions!!! Congratulations to Coach Rettig and the Minerva Lions on an outstanding accomplishment!
Go Lions! 🦁
#MinervaPride
Athletic Events
5/18/26 to 5/23/26
Subject to change
5/18/26 to 5/23/26
Subject to change
