FORT JENNINGS — Galion pitcher Braxton Prosser did his best Harry Houdini impression Wednesday afternoon.
The Youngstown State recruit worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh as the top-seeded Tigers held on for a 1-0 win over No. 3 Lima Bath at Fort Jennings.
Galion (20-7) will take on third-seeded Upper Sandusky for a district title at 5 p.m. Friday. The Rams beat Van Wert 5-4 in Wednesday’s late semifinal.
The Tigers scored the game’s only run in the home half of the fifth.
Chase Dininger reached on an error before Ben Albert drew a walk on a 10-pitch at bat. Both runners moved up on Prosser’s groundout. Max Albert, an Ashland University recruit, was intentionally walked to load the bases with two out before Kane Hay drew a walk on a full count to plate Dininger.
Bath had runners on first and third with one out in the sixth, but Prosser escaped trouble with a groundout and a strikeout.
Galion went quietly in the bottom of the sixth, setting the stage for the nail-biting seventh.
The Wildcats loaded the bases thanks to a walk, a fielder’s choice and another walk. Prosser induced an infield popup for the second out of the inning before recording his ninth and final strikeout to seal it.
Prosser allowed just one hit, a leadoff double in the sixth. He threw 103 pitches, 68 for strikes.
Dininger and Kurt Hay had the only two hits for Galion.
Logan Markley was the hard-luck loser for Bath. He went the distance, striking out nine and walking five. The run he gave up was unearned.