Reckner Delivers Walk-Off Win For Aviators

VANDALIA — In the final game of a loaded Prep Baseball Ohio Spring Classic at Butler High School, fans were treated to a walk-off thriller as Division III’s top-ranked Butler Aviators edged Springboro 7–6 on Saturday evening.

Down a run in the bottom of the seventh, the Aviators delivered one final punch. With two runners on and one out, Mason Reckner laced a double into the gap, scoring Hunter Richardson and Koby Dues to send the home crowd into a frenzy as Butler improved to 7–0, 2-0 on the season.

The dramatic finish capped a back-and-forth affair that featured 18 combined hits, and plenty of momentum swings.

Butler jumped out early in the first inning with a pair of runs thanks to Reckner’s RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Paxton Dwenger. Springboro responded in the fourth, tying it up on a two-run single from Jacob Cane.

The Aviators answered quickly in the bottom half, putting up a three-spot on RBI singles from Max Rubins, Cooper Rife, and Brody Miller to reclaim the lead at 5–2. But Springboro wouldn’t go away, tying it again in the fifth behind a Colten Muhlenkamp double and another RBI knock from Cane.

Drew Davis gave the Panthers their first lead with a go-ahead double in the sixth, setting the stage for Butler’s final-inning heroics.

Reckner finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including the game-winner. The Aviators were aggressive on the base paths all night, swiping eight bases — two of them from Rubins — and turned two key double plays defensively.

Jackson Schilling (1-0) picked up the win in relief, throwing a scoreless seventh. Tate Richardson, Koby Dues, Will Kitchen, Logan Smith, and Carson Perry all contributed on the mound for Butler in the high-leverage matchup.

Cane led Springboro’s offense, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two walks. The Panthers racked up 11 hits and drew nine walks but couldn’t hold off Butler’s final push.

The Aviators return to league play Monday, hosting an always formidable Troy (2-4,2-1) as they look to keep their unbeaten streak alive.