Olentangy High School, May 24, 2025: On a cool but sunny Saturday morning at the Olentangy Braves field, fans were treated to a classic high-stakes showdown as Dublin outlasted Licking Heights in a 9-8 thriller to claim the Division II District Championship.
With medals shining and a championship trophy held high, the Irish proved their resilience in a back-and-forth slugfest that had all the drama of a postseason classic.
The Irish struck first in the bottom of the second, when Abbi Clark came through with a run-scoring single to give the Irish the early lead. Then in the third, Alexis Richie ripped an RBI double, followed by Avery Reynolds, who went yard with a massive bomb to deep left field, giving Dublin a 4-0 cushion.
But Scioto’s early momentum was met with firepower from the Hornets. Licking Heights clawed back into the game, stringing together hits—including a flurry of singles and doubles—that culminated in a game-tying rally in the fourth. By the top of the fifth, the Hornets had surged ahead, 8-4, highlighted by Lydia Rauch’s RBI double and a two-run single off the bat of Natalie Mahoney.
In her final district appearance, senior Alexis Richie delivered in every phase of the game. The right-hander started in the circle, going 4.1 gritty innings, striking out eight while walking just one. Her poise under pressure kept the Irish within striking distance during Licking Heights’ offensive surge.
Refusing to fold, the Irish mounted a comeback of their own. In the bottom of the sixth, Gina Wasko cracked a two-run double, bringing the Irish closer. Then came the dagger—Alexis Richie stepped up once more and delivered the go-ahead RBI single to give Dublin the 9-8 lead.
Reynolds, who came on in relief, was dominant in the clutch. She shut down the Hornets over the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six and issuing no walks to secure the win.
Dublin collected 11 hits in total—Wasko, Richie, Reynolds, Clark, and senior Sophia Jackson each notched two. Defensively, the Irish were flawless, committing no errors, with Maria Wasko handling 14 chances cleanly behind the plate.
With the win, Dublin is crowned the Division II District Champion, while Licking Heights takes home the runner-up title. Next stop for the Irish: Region 5 Tournament, where they’ll face Ashville Teays Valley, the Central 1 District winner, on Wednesday, May 28 at 5:00 p.m. as the visiting team.
Go Irish!
