Fairfield Regional Semifinal Baseball Preview 2024: Lions to face South Central in Lancaster

LEESBURG — For the first time in 22 years, the Southeast District 2 champion Fairfield Lions baseball program will be playing in a regional semifinal game, with the Lions preparing to face the Northwest 6 District champion, the Greenwich South Central Trojans, at Beavers Field in Lancaster Thursday, May 30 at 6 p.m.

South Central (17-8) was the Northwest 6 District champion by winning three postseason games, starting with a 10-0 win over New Washington Buckeye Central in the sectional finals, followed by a district semifinal win over Plymouth by a 12-3 score. In their district final game, the Trojans defeated Attica Seneca East, 1-0.

The Lions are also 3-0 in the postseason for 2024, starting with a 2-0 sectional final win against Beaver Eastern, followed by district wins against Ironton St. Joseph by a 4-0 score, and a district final run-rule win against Racine Southern at 11-1 in five innings.

In the 10 days in between the district final game and the regional semifinal game, the Lions played two more games for the regular-season standings, playing South Webster to a 7-5 win and falling to Portsmouth 4-3 to keep their skills sharp before playing in the regional semifinal game.

As for the game this Thursday (May 30) at Beavers Field in Lancaster, the Lions enter the game with both of their top pitchers well-rested, as senior Gabe Fouch enters the game with nine pitching appearances this season — having a 5-2 record — where in 46 innings pitched he has 80 strikeouts, three shutouts, a 0.935 WHIP and a 0.457 ERA. Fouch has allowed just three earned runs this season (10 total runs), while walking 18 batters and allowing 25 hits.

Fairfield’s other top pitcher, Cade Miller — also a senior — in 10 games on the mound has pitched 49 innings, allowing a 0.714 ERA and a WHIP of 0.980. Miller also has 75 strikeouts and a 6-1 record with one save, plus the senior tossed the first no-hitter of his career.

The pitching for the Trojans is led by junior Aaron Hauler and senior Eric Sanders, as they’ve combined for a 13-2 record with Hauler at 7-1 this season and Sanders at 6-1.

Hauler has a 2.79 ERA with nine appearances on the mound, He’s made seven starts with two complete games, pitching 47.2 innings with 63 strikeouts and 22 walks, along with 28 runs (19 earned) and 47 hits allowed.

Sanders has a 2.40 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts), pitching 55.1 innings. He’s allowed 33 runs (19 earned) on 37 hits and has collected 55 strikeouts. Sanders also walked 27 batters this season.

Sanders also leads the Trojans at the plate with a 0.421 batting average, with a 0.531 on-base percentage. He also leads the Trojans with 19 steals and has scored 21 runs this season. Sanders has collected 32 hits, 22 RBI and has a slugging percentage of 0.526.

Other leaders for the Trojans are Weston June, a sophomore who has a .318 batting average, and the junior Hauler is batting .310 with 22 hits, 17 steals, 16 RBI and 27 runs. Gunner Ray leads South Central with 33 runs, and he’s collected 25 hits in ’24.

For the Lions, Zane Matthews is batting .493 with 73 at-bats, along with 31 runs, 36 hits, seven doubles, one home run, 30 RBI and 17 steals.

Miller is batting .459 with 74 at-bats, as he has compiled 24 runs, 34 hits, eight doubles, one triple, one home run, 19 RBI and 10 steals.

Carson Chandler is batting .368, and in his 57 at-bats, he’s collected 16 runs, 21 hits, five doubles, one triple, 16 RBI and two steals. There is also Blaine Fauber with 63 at-bats, where he’s collected 21 runs, 16 hits, three doubles, 18 RBI and two steals, with a .254 batting average.

Gabe Fouch has 68 at-bats in 2024, totaling 26 runs, 21 hits, four doubles, four triples, 16 RBI, five steals and has compiled a .309 BA.

There is also Wyatt Willey in 67 at-bats collecting 19 runs, 19 hits, five doubles, nine RBI and eight steals, all with a BA of .284. Corbin Willey, in 63 at-bats this season, has collected seven runs, 18 hits, three triples, one home run, 21 RBI, one steal and has a .286 BA.

The two teams will play their regional semifinal game at 6 p.m. at Beavers Field in Lancaster.

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