In a game that had all the makings of a classic rivalry showdown, the Lancaster Golden Gales finally reclaimed their throne.
For years, Lancaster baseball had been synonymous with dominance in the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division. From 2018 to 2022—pandemic pause aside—the Gales piled up league titles like it was second nature. But the past few seasons brought a different kind of story: close calls, near misses, and the sting of falling just short when it mattered most.
That all changed on Monday, May 11, when Lancaster traveled to face their bitter rival, Newark, with everything on the line. Both teams entered the winner-take-all matchup with identical 12-1 league records. The Gales had one shot at redemption—and they made it count.
Behind a masterful performance from junior pitcher Brody Broeckel, a defense that didn’t flinch, and timely hitting when it mattered, Lancaster shut out Newark 2-0 to claim the OCC-Buckeye Division championship. It was a sweet victory, especially after avenging their only league loss of the season.
“I am extremely proud of these guys for finally breaking through,” said Lancaster head coach Corey Conn. “We have been right there the last three years, and we had a couple of bounces that didn’t go our way. But this group came out and made things go our way. They’ve worked so hard all offseason and preseason, so for them to get the reward at the end is incredible.”
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, when the Gales finally broke the deadlock. Ben Thimmes led off with a double, and pinch-runner Donovan McFarland took over on the basepaths. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Broeckel laid down a perfect squeeze bunt. McFarland sprinted home, diving headfirst to beat the tag and put Lancaster on the board.
An insurance run followed in the sixth inning. After a walk to Ross, Kam Griffith stepped up and delivered a two-out RBI double to extend the lead to 2-0—more than enough for Broeckel and the defense to close the door.
For Lancaster, this wasn’t just another win. It was a statement. After years of coming up short, the Gales proved they still know how to finish the job. And with a conference title back in their hands, the gold standard has returned to Lancaster baseball.