Indians capitalize off Fairfield errors for non-league win
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro Indians capitalized on fielding miscues by the Fairfield Lions on Wednesday afternoon in a big way. The Lions committed nine errors, five in the first inning, as the Indians outscored FHS 14-5 for the non-league win at Shaffer Park.
Not only did HHS take advantage of the Lions' miscues when at the plate and on the bases, HHS perfected a rare feat in high school baseball: a triple play in the top of the first inning.
The triple play came when the Lions had two runners on base with no outs. The Lions hit into a line drive caught by Corey Walker (near short and second base), then tagged the runner at second for out two, and threw the ball to third as the runner was tagged for the final out of the inning. Brandon Wilson earned an assist in the play.
"It is to the point where yelling at the kids doesn't do any good," FHS head coach Jeff Miller said. "Right now it is all in their heads with the errors. We know everybody is capable of playing better. I told them we have to play one inning at a time, and we need to build from that with a league game next on the schedule."
After the defensive display, the Indians walked to plate and went to work, jumping on their Highland County counterpart for five runs.
Corey Walker reached first via throwing error to give the Tribe their first base runner of the inning. Brandon Wilson then singled and Walker took third of a sacrifice fly by Dow Kiefer.
Steagall then doubled in Walker and Wilson for two RBIs.
Later in the inning Logan Watson and Paul Snyder reached on infield errors. Down to their last out, Eli Hogsett reached the bases on the Lions' fourth error of the inning, allowing Steagall and Watson to round the bases home.
Wyatt Wagner reached on an a throwing error, allowing Snyder to make the score 5-0.
In the bottom of the second, Walker led off the inning by reaching first on the sixth fielding error by the Lions. Wilson then had a base hit, and he was followed with a single by Kiefer, which scored Walker.
Steagall forced a walk, and with the bases loaded, Watson was hit by a pitch to score Wilson.
Patrick Garman singled to right to score both Kiefer and Steagall.
With a new pitcher on the mound, the Indians continued to add runs with Hogsett doubling in Garman. With two outs, Walker singled in Snyder, who reached the bases on a five-pitch walk.
After two innings, the Indians led 11-0.
HHS added three runs in the third with Steagall, Watson and Garman all rounding third and touching the home plate.
To reach the bases, Steagall was hit by a pitch, Garman singled and Watson singled. Garman's base hit brought Steagall around the bases, while Snyder doubled in Watson. Garman scored on a fielding error by the Lions.
"We played well," HHS head coach Rusty Swackhamer said. "We were looking to play well, and defensively we did a great job. We wanted to give everyone a chance to play so everyone can stay focused."
Trailing by 14 runs the Lions still had fight in them.
In the top of the fifth inning, needing to score five runs to stay alive, FHS kept the game going by scoring those five runs, cutting the HHS lead to nine, waving off the 10-run rule after five complete innings.
Dakota Hargrave forced a full-count walk to start the top of the fifth for Fairfield. Cody Tolle then singled, and later in the inning with one out, Michael Carson reached first on an error by the Indians. The error allowed Hargrave to plate the first Lion run of the county matchup.
With the bases loaded, Bobby Wilson was hit by a pitch to score Tolle. Sammy Williams then hit a sacrifice fly to short to score Michael Carson. Ian Adams doubled in Chase Fulkerson and Wilson with two outs to complete the FHS scoring in the fifth. Fulkerson reached the bases on a walk.
"The team I saw in the last couple innings is the team I know we can be," Miller said.
The pitching victory was credited to Tyler Greigo. Greigo went 4 1-3 innings on the mound, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks. Greigo finished with five strikeouts. Steagall pitched 2 2-3 innings of relief. The senior allowed three hits, one run (none earned), no walks; while striking out two batters.
"Tyler pitched well for us," Swackhamer said. "(Airic) Steagall did a good job spot pitching, and Tyler helped save our arms. He has done a good job since we called him up."
Jordan Boles was charged with the loss. Boles pitched one inning, allowing 10 runs (five earned) on five hits and one walk. Bobby Wilson pitched five innings in relief. Wilson allowed seven hits, four runs (two earned) and one walk. Wilson struck out six. Both Boles and Wilson made their season pitching debuts in this game. The Lions allowed seven unearned runs.
"Jordan and Bobby pitched well for their varsity debuts of the season. This was Jordan's first start of his varsity career," Miller said. "The bottom line is we can't give a team like Hillsboro six outs an inning and expect to win games. It won't work."
At the plate the Indians were led by Brandon Wilson, A.J. Helterbrand and Garman as each player had two hits. Garman led HHS with three RBIs. Steagall had two RBIS, followed with Walker, Kiefer, Snyder, Hogsett and Watson all earning one RBI.
"Eli (Hogsett) had a tremendous game," Swackhamer said. "Wyatt (Wagner) was solid at third base."
For the Lions, Bobby Wilson, Williams, Adams, Hargrave, Tolle, Michael Carson and Fulkerson all had one hit.
The loss puts FHS at 4-4 overall, with a Southern Hills League record of 4-1. HHS leaps to 7-3 overall.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 050 0 — 5 5 9
HHS 563 000 x — 14 12 2[[In-content Ad]]
Not only did HHS take advantage of the Lions' miscues when at the plate and on the bases, HHS perfected a rare feat in high school baseball: a triple play in the top of the first inning.
The triple play came when the Lions had two runners on base with no outs. The Lions hit into a line drive caught by Corey Walker (near short and second base), then tagged the runner at second for out two, and threw the ball to third as the runner was tagged for the final out of the inning. Brandon Wilson earned an assist in the play.
"It is to the point where yelling at the kids doesn't do any good," FHS head coach Jeff Miller said. "Right now it is all in their heads with the errors. We know everybody is capable of playing better. I told them we have to play one inning at a time, and we need to build from that with a league game next on the schedule."
After the defensive display, the Indians walked to plate and went to work, jumping on their Highland County counterpart for five runs.
Corey Walker reached first via throwing error to give the Tribe their first base runner of the inning. Brandon Wilson then singled and Walker took third of a sacrifice fly by Dow Kiefer.
Steagall then doubled in Walker and Wilson for two RBIs.
Later in the inning Logan Watson and Paul Snyder reached on infield errors. Down to their last out, Eli Hogsett reached the bases on the Lions' fourth error of the inning, allowing Steagall and Watson to round the bases home.
Wyatt Wagner reached on an a throwing error, allowing Snyder to make the score 5-0.
In the bottom of the second, Walker led off the inning by reaching first on the sixth fielding error by the Lions. Wilson then had a base hit, and he was followed with a single by Kiefer, which scored Walker.
Steagall forced a walk, and with the bases loaded, Watson was hit by a pitch to score Wilson.
Patrick Garman singled to right to score both Kiefer and Steagall.
With a new pitcher on the mound, the Indians continued to add runs with Hogsett doubling in Garman. With two outs, Walker singled in Snyder, who reached the bases on a five-pitch walk.
After two innings, the Indians led 11-0.
HHS added three runs in the third with Steagall, Watson and Garman all rounding third and touching the home plate.
To reach the bases, Steagall was hit by a pitch, Garman singled and Watson singled. Garman's base hit brought Steagall around the bases, while Snyder doubled in Watson. Garman scored on a fielding error by the Lions.
"We played well," HHS head coach Rusty Swackhamer said. "We were looking to play well, and defensively we did a great job. We wanted to give everyone a chance to play so everyone can stay focused."
Trailing by 14 runs the Lions still had fight in them.
In the top of the fifth inning, needing to score five runs to stay alive, FHS kept the game going by scoring those five runs, cutting the HHS lead to nine, waving off the 10-run rule after five complete innings.
Dakota Hargrave forced a full-count walk to start the top of the fifth for Fairfield. Cody Tolle then singled, and later in the inning with one out, Michael Carson reached first on an error by the Indians. The error allowed Hargrave to plate the first Lion run of the county matchup.
With the bases loaded, Bobby Wilson was hit by a pitch to score Tolle. Sammy Williams then hit a sacrifice fly to short to score Michael Carson. Ian Adams doubled in Chase Fulkerson and Wilson with two outs to complete the FHS scoring in the fifth. Fulkerson reached the bases on a walk.
"The team I saw in the last couple innings is the team I know we can be," Miller said.
The pitching victory was credited to Tyler Greigo. Greigo went 4 1-3 innings on the mound, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks. Greigo finished with five strikeouts. Steagall pitched 2 2-3 innings of relief. The senior allowed three hits, one run (none earned), no walks; while striking out two batters.
"Tyler pitched well for us," Swackhamer said. "(Airic) Steagall did a good job spot pitching, and Tyler helped save our arms. He has done a good job since we called him up."
Jordan Boles was charged with the loss. Boles pitched one inning, allowing 10 runs (five earned) on five hits and one walk. Bobby Wilson pitched five innings in relief. Wilson allowed seven hits, four runs (two earned) and one walk. Wilson struck out six. Both Boles and Wilson made their season pitching debuts in this game. The Lions allowed seven unearned runs.
"Jordan and Bobby pitched well for their varsity debuts of the season. This was Jordan's first start of his varsity career," Miller said. "The bottom line is we can't give a team like Hillsboro six outs an inning and expect to win games. It won't work."
At the plate the Indians were led by Brandon Wilson, A.J. Helterbrand and Garman as each player had two hits. Garman led HHS with three RBIs. Steagall had two RBIS, followed with Walker, Kiefer, Snyder, Hogsett and Watson all earning one RBI.
"Eli (Hogsett) had a tremendous game," Swackhamer said. "Wyatt (Wagner) was solid at third base."
For the Lions, Bobby Wilson, Williams, Adams, Hargrave, Tolle, Michael Carson and Fulkerson all had one hit.
The loss puts FHS at 4-4 overall, with a Southern Hills League record of 4-1. HHS leaps to 7-3 overall.
BOX SCORE
FHS 000 050 0 — 5 5 9
HHS 563 000 x — 14 12 2[[In-content Ad]]