FINAL: BVW 1, LHS 0

After picking up just one hit through six innings, the Blue Valley West Jaguars got their second in the seventh and that was enough to win.

Gragg’s two-out single off of a 74 mile-per-hour breaking pitch from Cleavinger brought Kyle Schlatter around for the game’s only run. Schlatter advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt.

The Lions season is over. LHS finished with a 14-9 record. For more, pick up a copy of tomorrow’s Journal-World.

LHS 0, BVW 0, Bottom 7th

We’re onto the bottom of the seventh. LHS went down 1-2-3 in the top of the inning and the Jaguars are sending their 4, 5 and 6 hitters to the plate to start their half of the inning.

Cleavinger enters the inning having thrown 93 pitches.

LHS 0, BVW 0, Top 7th

Same story, different inning. The Lions and Jaguars go to the seventh scoreless.

In the top of the sixth, LHS senior Troy Willoughby picked up his third hit of the day and the Lions saw a runner advance to third base for the third time today, but could not push the run across.

In the bottom of the inning, Cleavinger walked the lead-off batter but then went strikeout, caught stealing, groundout to get out of the jam.

We’re getting to that point where one mistake is going to lose someone this game.

LHS 0, BVW 0, Top 6th

Cleavinger’s no-hit bid was broken up with a one-out double by West’s Tanner Gragg, but he responded by forcing a fly-out to right and striking out the final batter of the inning.

In the top half of the inning, the Lions were retired in order and without a threat.

LHS 0, BVW 0, Top 5th

Another quick inning for Cleavinger, who needed minimal pitches to get out of the fourth.

The highlight of the inning for LHS was a feet-first, sliding catch by center fielder C.J. Rousch for the second out.

LHS 0, BVW 0, Bottom 4th

LHS goes down in order in the top of the fourth and Cleavinger, who has not allowed a hit through three innings, heads back to the hill for the bottom of the inning.

BVW will send the 3, 4 and 5 hitters to the plate to start the fourth.

LHS 0, BVW 0, Top 4th

The third inning was the wildest yet, but still no scoring.

In the Lions’ half of the inning, LHS logged a leadoff walk, a single and a double but could not plate a run. Shane Willoughby, who singled, was thrown out at third base on Troy Willoughby’s double down the third-base line.

Troy then caught everyone off guard and swiped third during a lull in the action. Unfortunately for LHS, Drew Green struck out for the final out of the inning with Troy standing on third.

Cleavinger faced just three batters during the bottom of the third, walking the leadoff guy and then getting help from a double-play and a pop out to second.

LHS 0, BVW 0, Top 3rd

Another base runner for both teams, but no runs yet again. Cleavinger and Wiles each faced four batters in the second and got out of the inning with ease.

Although no runs have been pushed across yet, both teams are nibbling at opportunities. Should be interesting to see who breaks first.

Cleavinger will lead off the third at the plate.

LHS 0, BVW 0, Top 2nd

Both teams advanced a runner into scoring position in the first inning, but both pitchers got out of their respective half innings without much trouble.

Troy Willoughby picked up the Lions’ only hit of the inning and Cleavinger struck out one batter. He was matched by Wiles, who fanned Jake Vinoverski to end the top of the first.

Pregame:

In a rematch of last year’s Class 6A state baseball semifinals, the Lawrence High baseball team (14-8) faces No. 2 seed Blue Valley West (20-2) at KU’s Hoglund Ballpark.

The seventh-seeded Lions lost to BVW last year, 3-2, and have revenge on their minds today.

The match-up figures to be a classic duel between top-quality pitchers as LHS senior Garrett Cleavinger squares off against West ace Collin Wiles.

Stay tuned to LJWorld.com throughout the afternoon — and the weekend, if LHS advances — for updates.