Carson Francis, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CANTON — The 2026 Valley Indians will be remembered for ages in Lucasville.
As one of Southeast Ohio’s most battle-tested teams, the Indians cruised to a district title and clawed their way through the regional tournament en route to the program’s sixth-ever Final 4.
Valley undoubtedly had what it took to get there, but it was unfortunately no match for what was next.
Defending Division V state champion Apple Creek Waynedale arrived in Canton looking to get back into the state title game on Thursday, and the Golden Bears took care of business.
Rounding off 13 hits, Waynedale brought Valley’s season to a close with a 7-2 defeat of the Indians.
“[Waynedale] has won a handful of state titles for a reason. They do a really good job and have a great program,” Valley head coach Nolan Crabtree said. “But I thought our boys really showed themselves well today with the way they competed. We had them on their heels for a while until a few things just didn’t go our way, but I’m proud of our kids and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the effort they put forth these last few weeks.”
Waynedale (30-3) got things going early when Cam Miller sent a ball to the left field wall for a double with two outs. Jordan Miller then singled to bring him in to score, giving his team an early lead.
Valley’s Carson Powell led off the first inning with a single before moving to second on a passed ball. Then, with two outs, Collin Greene singled into left field to bring Powell home, tying things at 1-1.
Powell was just getting started, though. In the bottom of the second, Gavin Hannah stood at second, and Powell drove him in from there to give the Indians a 2-1 advantage.
But still, Waynedale was nowhere near finished.
Brayden Steiner was hit by a pitch to start the third inning. Logan Troyer would then bunt him over to second before a Cam Miller single brought him home, tying the game at 2-2.
Then, Hudson Barkman came up with a two-out single into left field to give the Golden Bears a 3-2 lead.
Waynedale tacked on two more in the fifth, starting when Cam Miller singled for his third hit of the day, plating Maddox Kidd.
Barkman would then reach on a Valley throwing error, which allowed Steiner to come home, extending Waynedale’s lead to 5-2.
Valley (22-8) simply had no answer with its bats, and Waynedale continued to slowly put things away.
“We went out last game and scored 17 runs, so it wasn’t like we weren’t hitting the ball. We were hitting the ball hard, and we weren’t getting those breaks,” Crabtree said. “We were seeing the ball and hitting the ball, but Waynedale was making plays and we were getting under the ball a little too much.”
The Golden Bears would play add-on when Jordan Miller doubled in the top of the sixth to score Cam Miller, who then scored on a single from Barkman, making it a 7-2 lead.
Valley would have a golden chance to cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. But Cam Miller worked his way to a strikeout looking, leaving the ducks on the pond.
And that all but wrapped it up from there.
The Indians put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but Waynedale got the three outs it needed to punch its ticket back to the state title game, closing out a 7-2 win.
Waynedale advances to Friday’s Division V state championship game against Columbus Academy, who knocked off Liberty-Benton by a 5-2 final. That matchup will be played at 7 17 Credit Union Park in Akron at 1 p.m.
Valley closes its season with both district and regional titles. The Indians bid farewell to four seniors — Carson Powell, Nolan Barnett, Gabe McNeil and Brady Hanes.
“They’re great kids, first of all, and they’re great baseball players. They all played football for me and they’re great football players, as well,” Crabtree said. “They’re just tough-minded individuals who work hard at what they do. They love their school and they love their community, and they lay it on the line every time they go out. That’s all you can ask for as a coach.”
The group of seniors leaves Valley with three district titles and a Final 4 trip this year, setting the bar high for the next group of baseball players to come into the program.
“We were in this spot five years ago and lost a heartbreaker to Lincolnview, and a lot of these kids were in junior high, sitting in the stands watching that game. That has such a trickle down effect on your program,” Crabtree said. “Our kids, from the top down, have an idea of what it takes to be here. These guys laid it out for us and I’m sure the guys coming back next year, and the guys in junior high and on down, see this and are going to want to be part of something special.”
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