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CENTENARY, Ohio — K’s aplenty.

Gallia Academy’s Justin Bailey struck out 16 of the 27 batters he faced Thursday night at Bob Eastman ball field during the Blue Devils 11-1 sectional title victory over Chillicothe.

The Blue Devils (21-6) got on the board first scoring one run on two hit in the home half of the first. GAHS added another run in the second after a Cavaliers (9-14) error. Chillicothe got on the board in the in the top of the third after Seth McGuire drove in Sean Jackson.

The Blue Devils broke the game open in the home half of the third, scoring four runs on four hits including three straight RBI singles by Gus Graham, Zach Thomas, and Bryant Bokovitz, the seven, eight, and nine hitter.GAHS added another run in the fourth and led 7-1.

Gallia Academy rallied with two outs in the fifth, with four consecutive hits capped of by the three-run double by Drew Young. The Blue Devils scored once in the sixth and took the 11-1 mercy rule victory.

Justin Bailey earned the victory after giving up just one run on two hits and four walks. Baliey struck out 16 batters in six innings including nine of the final 10 batters he faced. Bailey struck out every Cavaliers’ batter at least one time.

Chilicothe’s Vest was credited with the loss after giving up six runs on six hits and five walks in three innings of work. Brandon Bonar pitched the final 2.2 frames for Chilicothe and gave up five runs on five hits and two walks. Vest struck out two batters while Bonar struck out three.

The GAHS hitting was led by Justin Bailey, Jimmy Clagg, and Drew Young with two hits apiece. Ty Warnimont, John Faro, Gus Graham, Brandon Taylor, and Zach Thomas each finished with one hit in the contest. Young led GAHS with three RBI, followed by Thomas with two.Graham led the Blue Devils with two runs scored.

Clagg and Young each had a double for the games only two extra-base hits, while Bailey, Warnimont, Young, and Bobby Dunlap each had a stolen base.

Seth McGuire and Derek Millikin had the lone hits for CHS while Sean Jackson scored the only run. McGuire drove in the only Cavaliers run.

After winning the sectional title for the second straight year, the Blue Devils will be advancing to districts for the fourth time in the last six years.

The Blue Devils return to action Tuesday at Paint Stadium in Chillicothe at 5 p.m. Gallia Academy will face Hillsboro, which ousted Washington Courthouse 6-2 Thursday night.