Aviators Advance To District Final With 9-0 Win

VANDALIA — If defense wins championships, Butler took a mighty step toward one Wednesday night.

With a trip to the district final on the line, the Aviators did more than dominate — they dismantled. Behind a masterclass from Hunter Richardson (8-0) and a glove show from Koby Dues at third, Butler blanked Xenia 9–0 to punch their ticket to Friday’s final.

Richardson was electric. The senior southpaw struck out 14, walked just one, and scattered four harmless hits in a complete game shutout. He worked with pace. He worked with command. And he worked with a lead.

Mason Reckner gave him that in the first, ripping a two-run double into the gap to ignite a three-run opening frame. Jackson Schilling added an RBI single in the second, and Butler kept tacking on — three more in the fifth, two in the sixth, all with the calm precision of a team that’s been here before.

But it wasn’t just the bats or the arm.

Dues stole the spotlight on defense — making three highlight-reel plays at the hot corner, including a pair of backhanded stops and a run-saving strike across the diamond that brought roars from the home crowd. He played the line like a pro, turned hits into outs, and set a tone of no free passes.

Paxton Dwenger stayed hot at the dish, going 2-for-3 and scoring twice. Schilling added a hit, an RBI, and 14 putouts behind the plate without a slip.

It was clean. It was complete. It was Butler baseball in tournament form.

The Aviators (26–3) now advance to face La Salle (14-11) on Friday at Hamilton High School in the district final — a showdown with a GCL South power (don’t let that record fool you) and a chance to keep marching toward Akron.

And if Wednesday was any indication…these Aviators will be ready.