By CODY LEIST

PDT Sports Writer

CHILLICOTHE — With back-to-back games ahead of many teams in Division III, figuring out which game to throw an ace is critical.

Piketon decided that Sunday would be Zach Farmer’s time to take the hill. The junior struck out 12, walked one and threw 104 pitches in a two-hit shutout as the No. 2 Redstreaks defeated No. 4 Westfall 5-0 in a Division III Southeast District Championship game at V.A. Memorial Stadium.

Piketon takes two out of the three meetings with the Mustangs this season. The win sets up a rematch in Thursday’s regional semifinal with Wheelersburg, which came from a 5-0 deficit in the fourth to defeat Lynchburg-Clay 6-5 in eight innings earlier Sunday.

Last season, the Pirates defeated the Redstreaks 10-0 in five innings to clinch a spot in the state tournament.

Piketon scored first in the third when Corey Ferguson hit a two-out triple. He scored when Zach Farmer hit a single to left.

Bryan Robinson hit a solo home run in the fourth off Westfall starter Daryin Lewis that caromed off the scoreboard in left field. The Redstreaks blew the game open the next inning when Robinson hit a three-run double and advanced to third on an error.

It was more than enough cushion for Farmer. Lewis recorded the only two hits off the lefty, one in the second and the other in the seventh.

In the fourth, Alek Stonerock — who was the Mustangs’ ace and pitched in Saturday’s 5-1 win over Meigs — drew the only free pass of the game. Before he threw his first pitch to the next batter, Farmer picked off Stonerock.

Farmer, Robinson and Issac Brabson were 2-for-3 each on the night.

Cody Leist can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 242, or cleist@heartlandpublications.com.

Piketon 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 — 5 9 0

Westfall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 1

Piketon — Pack 1-4, C. Ferguson 1-3 (3B, R), Farmer 2-3 (3B, BB, RBI, R), Bennett 0-2 (BB, R), Robinson 2-3 (HR, 2B, 4 RBI, R), Fremder 1-3, Brabson 2-3 (3B).

Westfall — Stonerock 0-2 (BB), Lewis 2-3.

W — Farmer (10-3)

L — Lewis (4-4)

Records — Piketon 22-8; Westfall 14-14.