Indian Valley baseball survives late rally, advancing to district finals
Indian Valley baseball survives late rally, advancing to district finals
Jacob Shondel, The Times-ReporterThu, May 28, 2026·3 min readIndian Valley's head coach Dusty Braun and John Glenn's head coach Brad Barclay meet at home plate with umpires in the district semifinals game on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's players lineup along the third base line during the National Anthem during the district semifinals against John Glenn on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's Deagan Beaber gets ready to fire a pitch to a John Glenn batter in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's Hayden Beaber attempts to tag out John Glenn's Reid Howard during the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's Kylan McDonald fields a ball barehanded before rifling the throw to first base for an out against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)John Glenn players smack gloves at the pitchers mound before an inning starts against Indian Valley in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's Deagan Beaber gears up to hit an RBI double in the first inning to extend his team's lead to 2-0 over John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's Deagan Beaber fires a pitch prior to an inning against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)After Indian Valley's Kellen Couts (2) laid a bunt down, John Glenn's pitcher Carter Merry (13) fires the ball to first to record an out in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)John Glenn's head coach Brad Barclay meets with his pitcher and catcher at the mound to go over plans against Indian Valley in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)John Glenn's Rocco Sabino gets ready to field a groundball against Indian Valley in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)John Glenn's catcher Charlie Cameron waits on the ball before tagging out a diving Kellen Couts (2) of Indian Valley in the district semifinals game on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)After recording the out at second base, Indian Valley Kylan McDonald gets ready to fire a throw to first base to complete a double play against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's Landon Roth stretches out to catch a throw to complete an inning ending double play against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's head coach Dusty Braun meets with his players at the pitchers mound against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)John Glenn's Jensen Parry slides into home, scoring one of three runs during the sixth inning against Indian Valley in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)John Glenn's Jensen Parry tracks down a flyball in center field, recording an out against Indian Valley to end the sixth inning in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley and John Glenn players exchange handshakes following the district semifinal game on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)Indian Valley's head coach Dusty Braun talks with his players following a 7-4 victory over John Glenn on May 27, 2026, advancing to the district championship game. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)John Glenn's head coach Brad Barclay talks with his players after a 7-4 loss to Indian Valley on May 27, 2026, in the district semifinals. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)1 / 20
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
Indian Valley's head coach Dusty Braun and John Glenn's head coach Brad Barclay meet at home plate with umpires in the district semifinals game on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball survives late rally, advancing to district finals
Indian Valley's players lineup along the third base line during the National Anthem during the district semifinals against John Glenn on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
Indian Valley's Deagan Beaber gets ready to fire a pitch to a John Glenn batter in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
Indian Valley's Hayden Beaber attempts to tag out John Glenn's Reid Howard during the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
Indian Valley's Kylan McDonald fields a ball barehanded before rifling the throw to first base for an out against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
John Glenn players smack gloves at the pitchers mound before an inning starts against Indian Valley in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball survives late rally, advancing to district finals
Indian Valley's Deagan Beaber gears up to hit an RBI double in the first inning to extend his team's lead to 2-0 over John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
Indian Valley's Deagan Beaber fires a pitch prior to an inning against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
After Indian Valley's Kellen Couts (2) laid a bunt down, John Glenn's pitcher Carter Merry (13) fires the ball to first to record an out in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
John Glenn's head coach Brad Barclay meets with his pitcher and catcher at the mound to go over plans against Indian Valley in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
John Glenn's Rocco Sabino gets ready to field a groundball against Indian Valley in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
John Glenn's catcher Charlie Cameron waits on the ball before tagging out a diving Kellen Couts (2) of Indian Valley in the district semifinals game on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
After recording the out at second base, Indian Valley Kylan McDonald gets ready to fire a throw to first base to complete a double play against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
Indian Valley's Landon Roth stretches out to catch a throw to complete an inning ending double play against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
Indian Valley's head coach Dusty Braun meets with his players at the pitchers mound against John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
John Glenn's Jensen Parry slides into home, scoring one of three runs during the sixth inning against Indian Valley in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
John Glenn's Jensen Parry tracks down a flyball in center field, recording an out against Indian Valley to end the sixth inning in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball survives late rally, advancing to district finals
Indian Valley and John Glenn players exchange handshakes following the district semifinal game on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
Indian Valley's head coach Dusty Braun talks with his players following a 7-4 victory over John Glenn on May 27, 2026, advancing to the district championship game. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
Indian Valley baseball advances to district championship, see our best photos
John Glenn's head coach Brad Barclay talks with his players after a 7-4 loss to Indian Valley on May 27, 2026, in the district semifinals. (Jacob Shondel/The Times-Reporter)
GNADENHUTTEN – Indian Valley’s baseball team saw its regular season end on a six-game losing streak and did everything they could to not see that number reach seven.
The No. 1 seeded Braves hosted No. 10 John Glenn on Wednesday, May 27 in a Division IV district semifinal and wasted no time to put runs on the board, scoring four runs in the game's opening two innings.
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Despite being outhit eight to six, Indian Valley took down John Glenn 7-4 to advance to the district championship game May 29.
“My team showed some fight today,” Indian Valley head coach Dusty Braun said. “We got into some jams early in the game that we got out of, and I was proud to see our guys fight through that.”
After opening a 5-0 lead after three innings, the Muskies threatened, loading the bases with one out in top of the fourth.
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However, after a mound visit with pitching coach Derek Cummings, Deagan Beaber forced a ground ball leading to an inning ending double play.
“When that happens, it makes you feel really good as a coach,” Braun said. “It’s something that gives everyone a little energy, and we used that going into the next inning.”
When the Braves went up to bat, they saw five players reach base and two come around to score, extending their lead to 7-0.
Indian Valley's Deagan Beaber gears up to hit an RBI double in the first inning to extend his team's lead to 2-0 over John Glenn in the district semifinals on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4.
“That’s a moment in the game where we had a chance to deliver that crucial hit,” Braun said. “Our guys stepped up and did just that.”
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The Muskies threatened, scoring four unanswered runs, bringing the score to 7-4 entering the seventh inning.
Ryker Williams came in relief, tossing 1.2 innings, striking out one batter and allowing two hits to close the game out.
The message to Braun’s team coming into the postseason: Look in the mirror.
“When you go on a skid, friction can start and everyone starts looking at each other,” he said. “We just had to refocus on who we are and what we’re capable of doing.”
As a team, Indian Valley totaled 10 walks in the game to the team's six hits.
“I think we are just seeing the ball really good right now,” Braun said. “When you’re struggling you have to find a way on base and build your confidence, and that’s what today was.”
Indian Valley and John Glenn players exchange handshakes following the district semifinal game on May 27, 2026. The Braves defeated the Muskies 7-4.
Beaber tossed 5.1 innings for Indian Valley, striking out five batters, allowing six hits and issuing seven walks.
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The Braves will now play for a chance to head to regionals as they matchup with No. 3 seed Richmond Edison in the district championship game Friday, May 29, at 1 p.m.
The game will be played in Minerva.
“We have to lock in, and make sure we are mentally right at the plate,” Braun said. “We’re moving on, and we can’t dwell on a couple of at bats or moments today.”
