District Semifinal Preview: Hillsboro baseball set to face Gallia Academy in Div. II district semifinals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Both the No. 6 seeded Hillsboro Indians and No. 7 seeded Gallia Academy Blue Devils were the lower seed in their sectional final game, but both were left standing, and now they’ll meet on Monday evening at Athens High School in the Division II SE District Semifinals.
The Indians enter the game with a 13-11 overall record, winners of their past seven games, including a sectional final win over the No. 2 seeded and Frontier Athletic Conference co-champion Washington Blue Lions by a 14-4 score in five innings. Gallia Academy stands at 12-11 overall this season, and in their sectional final win they defeated No. 3 seeded Marietta, 5-4 in nine innings.
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Though both of their sectional final paths were a bit different, the Indians and Blue Devils will meet at Athens High School in a game where the winner will get a shot to play for a district championship.
Hillsboro head coach Matt Garman said following their sectional final win that the postseason wasn’t about who they would be facing, but which Hillsboro team shows up in the district round.
“We talk to the guys a lot about it isn’t about which team you will play, but about which team shows up,” he said. “If our team comes ready to go, it doesn’t matter who is on the other side. We are going to be really tough to beat, and that is always the goal.”
The Indians this season have four players batting above .300 with at least 70 at-bats and 20-plus games played, including Payton Bell (.333, 78 at-bats, 12 RBI, 17 walks) and Kelton Anderson (.390, 82 at-bats, 20 RBI, eight doubles, five triples).
That list also includes Ethan Watson (70 at-bats, two doubles, two triples, 22 RBI and a .357 average) and Jared Thompson with 76 at-bats and a .382 batting average, along with four doubles and eight walks.
Also, there is Mason Stanley is batting .269 with three doubles, one triple, 14 RBI, 21 runs, 16 walks and he’s been hit by 13 pitches this season.
Luke Magulac is batting .284 with nine walks, five hits by pitch, 11 RBI, one triple, one double and 19 hits in 67 at-bats.
For the season, the Indians have a .314 batting average.
Gallia Academy in the sectional finals saw starting pitcher Josh Fargo have a no-decision and Cole Davis be the winning pitcher. Also in their win over Marietta, Braden Simms gained the save.
Others for Gallia Academy who stand out are Wyatt Sipple, Andrew Toler, Corbin Alkire, Davis and Dakota Young, all of whom scored runs in the sectional final.
The Indians and Blue Devils are scheduled to play at Athens High School on Monday, May 14 at 7 p.m.
The Indians enter the game with a 13-11 overall record, winners of their past seven games, including a sectional final win over the No. 2 seeded and Frontier Athletic Conference co-champion Washington Blue Lions by a 14-4 score in five innings. Gallia Academy stands at 12-11 overall this season, and in their sectional final win they defeated No. 3 seeded Marietta, 5-4 in nine innings.
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Though both of their sectional final paths were a bit different, the Indians and Blue Devils will meet at Athens High School in a game where the winner will get a shot to play for a district championship.
Hillsboro head coach Matt Garman said following their sectional final win that the postseason wasn’t about who they would be facing, but which Hillsboro team shows up in the district round.
“We talk to the guys a lot about it isn’t about which team you will play, but about which team shows up,” he said. “If our team comes ready to go, it doesn’t matter who is on the other side. We are going to be really tough to beat, and that is always the goal.”
The Indians this season have four players batting above .300 with at least 70 at-bats and 20-plus games played, including Payton Bell (.333, 78 at-bats, 12 RBI, 17 walks) and Kelton Anderson (.390, 82 at-bats, 20 RBI, eight doubles, five triples).
That list also includes Ethan Watson (70 at-bats, two doubles, two triples, 22 RBI and a .357 average) and Jared Thompson with 76 at-bats and a .382 batting average, along with four doubles and eight walks.
Also, there is Mason Stanley is batting .269 with three doubles, one triple, 14 RBI, 21 runs, 16 walks and he’s been hit by 13 pitches this season.
Luke Magulac is batting .284 with nine walks, five hits by pitch, 11 RBI, one triple, one double and 19 hits in 67 at-bats.
For the season, the Indians have a .314 batting average.
Gallia Academy in the sectional finals saw starting pitcher Josh Fargo have a no-decision and Cole Davis be the winning pitcher. Also in their win over Marietta, Braden Simms gained the save.
Others for Gallia Academy who stand out are Wyatt Sipple, Andrew Toler, Corbin Alkire, Davis and Dakota Young, all of whom scored runs in the sectional final.
The Indians and Blue Devils are scheduled to play at Athens High School on Monday, May 14 at 7 p.m.