Cardinals rout Lehman to clinch first state trip since 2004
SPRINGFIELD — Triad’s softball team played for a state championship last year. The Cardinals’ baseball team is one step away from doing the same this spring.
For the first time since 2004, Triad is headed to the state Final Four in baseball after crushing Lehman Catholic 11-0 in five innings in a Division IV regional final Friday at Carleton Davidson Stadium.
“It’s great for the school, great for the kids and great for the whole community,” said longtime Triad head coach Will Nichols. “It’s been 12 years since we’ve been to state. It’s tough to get there.”
Triad has been a determined group since suffering a three-game losing skid late in the regular-season.
“We got beat by Northeastern, then got shut out by West Liberty-Salem and then lost another game for three straight losses,” said Nichols. “From that point, we got back to the basics and have won nine or 10 in a row now. Everything is clicking. In five tournament games, we have only allowed one run.”
Triad’s Dalton Holycross slides home to score a run in the first inning of Friday’s Division IV regional semifinal against Lehman Catholic at Carleton Davidson Stadium in Springfield. (EXAMINER PHOTO | MATT HAMMOND)
Read complete story in Saturday’s Examiner.
CLICK HERE to subscribe today!
WEB EDITION STARTING AT $9.50 FOR 5 WEEKS!