PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
TAKING A RIP … Bryan’s Mylie Vollmer goes after a pitch during Bryan’s 3-2 regional final win over Lake. VIEW 124 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM

AT THE PLATE … Jozie Cordy makes contact during an at-bat for the Golden Bears.

Bryan 3, Lake 2

CLYDE — Bryan had its back to the wall as they trailed Lake 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth of the Division IV regional final at Clyde High School.

The Golden Bears registered three straight RBI singles to take the lead on its way to a 3-2 win to clinch a spot in the state final four for the second time in the last three seasons.

Lake struck first in the third with a walk and single leading up to a two-run double by Norah Demory for a 2-0 Flyers lead.

Reese Ruffer opened the fifth for Bryan with a single before the next two hitters were retired by Lake pitcher Parker Dart.

The parade of singles the pursued as Emaline Slagle, Amiyah Langham and Josey Arnold each delivered an RBI single to put Bryan on top.

Bryan ace Thea Staten then struck out five of the next seven hitters she faced, including striking out the side in the seventh to put the game away.

For the night Staten recorded 16 strikeouts which now puts her in the top ten all-time in the OHSAA with 1,216 career strikeouts.

Bryan (23-0) will take on Newark Licking Valley (26-0) in a Division IV state semifinal game on Friday, June 5, at 5:30 p.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

LHS 002 000 0 – 2 3 2
BHS 000 030 x – 3 5 0

WP- Thea Staten (IP-7, R-2, H-3, K-16, BB-3)
LP- Parker Dart (IP-6, R-3, H-5, K-2, BB-0)

LEADING HITTERS: (Bryan) Amiyah Langham — single, RBI; Josey Arnold — single, RBI; Emaline Slagle — single, RBI. Lake- Norah Demory — double, 2 RBIs.