LIMA, Ohio- Lima scored three runs in the fifth inning, winning four consecutive games in playoffs to secure their seventh title in the franchise.

In the top of the fifth inning, junior catcher Mason Sawyer put an exclamation point in a three-run frame behind a home run to left-center field, getting two RBIs in the process and Lima towards 8-2 over Xenia.

"I knew he had a really good fastball," said Sawyer. "He put it up high and sometimes all you gotta do is just turn around and put a bat on it and it'll do the work for you."

Sawyer's second-career home run off Xenia senior left-hander Griffith Hughes gave Ohio State a 3-1 lead after five frames.

The home run was Sawyer's first hit of the game – he hit two doubles in the next two innings – he finished with three hits against the Scouts, three RBIs, and two runs scored.

"Mason had a huge homerun to put us in the lead," said head coach Chad Ehrnsberger. "Mason picked a great day to have his best game of the summer, that's for sure."

The Locos would score eight runs in the final five innings, and freshman designated hitter Cade Belyeu would help to extend the lead.

Belyeu would show his plate disciple by getting two walks; in the top f the sixth inning, Belyeu would record a walk with the bases loaded to bring him his first RBI.

Belyeu would get his final RBI in the eighth after an RBI single. Belyeu would finish 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks.

Junior righty Blaine McRae would dawn the Locos jersey for only his second time after getting signed two weeks ago, throwing six shutout innings and receiving his first win.

McRae would give up an early score as the Locos would go down 1-0 in the first, but McRae lives for the pressure of big-time games and situations.

"I love the pressure, I love big situations," said McRae. "I want to get the last out of a big game that's important to me, these guys gave me that opportunity."

McRae would give up one run on three hits with six strikeouts to get his first win.

The Locos won four straight games against Muskegon in the divisional round and two against Xenia to win the championship after being back o back runner-ups in 2021 and 2022.

Lima is rooted in playoff wins, and Chad Ehrnsberger had told his players what was expected of them at the beginning of the season.

"Beginning of the season I said championship or bust," Ehrnsberger said. "That's my mindset that's the Locos culture and that's what we do, I set the goal and made the guys aware of it."

The Locos are now second in titles (7), only behind Columbus All-Americans (8), marking their first title since 2019.

"A great group of guys in that dugout, I couldn't be prouder and happier for these guys," said Ehrnsberger. "The amount of work these guys put in and everything they've done, it really means a lot that we get to send them home with a ring and a championship."