Springboro one win away from state baseball berth after beating Beavercreek

“It felt great,” Cane said. “I was seeing the ball well today and working hard with my guys. We had the bases loaded, and I was just trying to do as much damage as I could.”

Springboro coach Mark Pelfrey called Cane an outstanding player.

“He’s one of our best leaders,“ Pelfrey said. ”He hits the ball well, sees the ball well. Last year, he tied our season record for walks. He does a lot offensively for us."

No. 13 Springboro (22-8) will play the defending state champion, No. 8 Mason (22-7), at 5 p.m. Thursday in Oxford. Mason beat Oak Hills 7-1 in the first semifinal Wednesday.

The regional champion will play No. 6 Medina or No. 18 Perrysburg in the state semifinals at 7 p.m. on June 14 at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium in Canton.

Springboro will seek its second state final four appearance. It last reached state in 2019.

“It’s huge,” Cane said. “These guys are my best friends. This is what we’ve worked for. This is what we’ve prepared for. We’re just doing the best we can to make as much of it as possible.”

“Hopefully, we’ll come out and play well and give ourselves a chance,” Pelfrey said. “We’re facing a good team. We’re excited for the opportunity.”

Beavercreek, which split two games in the regular season with Springboro and finished a game back of it in the Greater Western Ohio Conference, finished 23-6.

Beavercreek trimmed a 5-1 deficit to one run by scoring runs in the third, fourth and fifth inning but was shut down by Springboro junior Jacob Rhinehart in the final two innings.

“That’s been our M.O. all year,” Beavercreek coach Brandon Long said. “These guys battle back. They never quit.”

Beavercreek junior Enzo Sansabrino kept his team in the game after taking the mound in the second after five runs had crossed the plate. The Panthers didn’t score again.

“That’s the all-area pitcher of the year right there,” Long said. “No situation’s too big. Never gets flustered. Never panics.”