For the first time in school, the Blanchester High School baseball team will play in the Southwest Regional tournament.

The Wildcats, 19-10, will face Southern Buckeye Athletic & Academic Conference National Division rival Bethel-Tate in the Region 12 semifinal game.

First pitch for the game is set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Xenia’s Athletes In Action Sports Complex.

The game originally was scheduled to be a 5 p.m. start then reports had the game scheduled for 2 p.m. The News Journal incorrectly reported in Tuesday’s edition the game was to be played Wednesday.

Bethel-Tate and Blanchester split two National Division games during the regular season. The Wildcats won at Bethel-Tate 5-4 and lost at Bott Field 8-4.

The teams also played two other non-league games with Blanchester winning both.

Blanchester won the Division III Southwest District championship over Carlisle 9-6 Sunday afternoon at Waynesville High School.

The Wildcats were district tournament runnersup in 1951, 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2015.

That moment right before you get drenched. Blanchester coach Aaron Lawson was given the obligatory ice water bath by Jack Davidson following Sunday’s win over Carlisle.

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/05/web1_BB_blan_lawson3CarME-5.jpgThat moment right before you get drenched. Blanchester coach Aaron Lawson was given the obligatory ice water bath by Jack Davidson following Sunday’s win over Carlisle.