Freshman Rodgers takes his 'shot,' delivers in clutch for Licking Valley baseball
HANOVER — It is rare a second chance comes so soon.
Licking Valley freshman Brody Rodgers bounced a two-run single through the left side in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday to give the Panthers a 4-3 victory against visiting Licking Heights in Licking County League-Buckeye Division baseball action. His clutch hit came just a pitch after pulling a line drive a couple feet too far foul and kept the Panthers (9-1, 4-1) even in the loss column with Watkins Memorial for the division lead.
"It's a little scary, but I had my teammates behind me," said Rodgers, who scored his senior brother Hayden Rodgers and pinch-runner Evan Lohr with his hit, which took a high hop over Heights shortstop Carson Johnson.
"With big brother leading off and him getting on, that's real helpful for our team," Brody Rodgers added. "I felt like we could move him around with how fast he is. ... Once it got to me, it was like, 'It's my turn. Let me get that shot.'"
Following Rodgers' foul ball which lined down the left-field line, his brother Hayden and coach Adam Arcuri gave him a pep talk halfway up the third-base line. The hit was Brody Rodgers' third of the game and bookended an inning which started with Hayden Rodgers' single up the middle.
"Just the bond we've had growing up, I have always had trust in him," Hayden Rodgers said. "I told him, 'It's a big moment, but not too big of a moment. Stay smooth, calm swing, deep breath.' You just have to keep yourself collected and calm."
Heights (3-8, 1-5) led from the top of the first inning and was a pitch away from a bright spot in what was a challenging week. The Hornets, who have lost six consecutive games, previously lost 6-1 to Valley on Tuesday in a makeup game and also lost to rival Watkins Memorial and Granville during the skid.
Brady Pennington scored on a fielder's choice in the first inning and drove in a run with a single in the second for the Hornets, who led 3-0. Right-hander Joel Busker, who has been Heights' leading hitter, relieved left-hander Blaine Claffey on the mound with two outs in the fifth and nearly closed out what would have been a much-needed victory.
"Joel is a pure-bred leader. He is a guy you can depend on and a guy who can bring guys with him, which is rare to find," Heights coach Cody Paterniti said. "Honestly, he's a college baseball player. He's playing like it. Anything that comes his way, he is ready for it."
Valley missed opportunities throughout the afternoon, stranding runners at second and third in both the first and third innings. The Panthers scored their first two runs in the fourth when Adam West hit a hard comebacker off the body of Claffey and later on a wild pitch.
The Panthers finally got a hit with runners in scoring position when they needed it most. Busker struck out the previous hitter with runners on second and third and was a strike away from getting Brody Rodgers.
"We had been knocking on the door, and it was just a matter of time for our guys," Valley coach Adam Arcuri said. "We have confidence in them, and they are all capable of getting the job done. … It was a big moment for Brody, and hopefully he is able build on that and continue to use that to his advantage."
Claffey struck out seven and allowed four hits in 4 2/3 innings for Heights. Richard Hill and Timo Martin matched Pennington with two hits each, and Hill also scored a run.
The Hornets have been undercut by injuries. They are missing four regulars from the lineup, and right-hander Chris Harvey was lost to injury from the rotation on Thursday.
"We continue to battle," Paterniti said. "Obviously we are plagued by injury this year, but I am seeing some guys step up. I like what I am seeing. It's a slow incline, but we are getting better every single day."
Right-hander Carter Sopher struck out five and allowed six hits and two earned runs, pitching to his twin brother Cameron Sopher behind the plate. Charlie Facemire threw a hitless top of the seventh in relief before the Rodgers brothers took center stage.
Valley ended Watkins' 22-game LCL winning streak in a makeup game on Thursday. The Panthers visit the Warriors for a rematch on Monday.
"Those tight games just builds that chemistry we have together," said Hayden Rodgers, who threw out a runner at the plate from right field to end the top of the sixth. "It's something to strive for when we come to practice every day — 8-1, 9-1."
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Brody Rodgers boosted Licking Valley baseball past Licking Heights
