Indians advance to district final game; defeat Sheridan in semifinals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro Indians baseball team traveled to Thornville on Monday, taking on the Sheridan Generals in the Division II SE District Semifinals. After seven competitive innings where the two teams combined for two runs, it was the Indians who advanced to the district finals, scoring both of those runs for a 2-0 victory.
Hillsboro’s win was their 22nd of the season, moving them to 22-6 overall, and their third of this postseason. In the win on Monday evening, the Indians collected six hits and had two errors. In the loss, the Sheridan finished with two hits and two errors.
Hillsboro was the first to score a run in the game, as they wasted little time by scoring a run in the top of the first inning as Tanner Warner got things started with a base hit past the shortstop with one out on the third pitch of the at-bat.
Next for the Indians was a two-out single by Spencer Wyckoff to right field, scoring Warner from second base as he reached second on a passed ball.
The Indians added a second run in the top of the sixth inning, beginning with Ryan Scott leading off by reaching first base on an error and taking second base on the same error. Warner singled in the ensuing at-bat, moving Scott to third base.
Zach Humphries stepped to the plate and on the first pitch of the at-bat sent the ball to left field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Scott from third base, gaining the RBI in the process for a 2-0 lead.
The pitching of Warner was on point for the Indians as well, as he pitched seven strong innings. In the first inning, Warner retired the first three batters of the order with two line drive outs and a swinging strike three.
Warner and the Indians’ defense did the same in the second inning with three straight outs on a ball hit to centerfield, a called third strike and a groundout to third base. The third inning saw Sheridan gain a double and a walk, but HHS kept the runners stranded with outs on a ball hit to right field, a groundout and a Warner strikeout.
Though Sheridan (22-6) began the fourth with a walk, the next out came on a play at the plate following an error. The Indians once again gained an out at home plate, as out two of the fourth inning was another play at the plate as the Generals attempted to take home. The inning ended with Warner striking out the batter on a swinging strike three.
Warner and the Indians kept the Generals off the scoreboard in the fifth with outs on a pop up to first base, a groundout to third base and a groundout to second base. Sheridan left two runners stranded as they had a single and a walk.
It was another one-two-three inning for Warner in the bottom of the sixth as he had two strikeouts (both swinging third strikes) and a groundout.
The bottom of the seventh for Warner and his Hillsboro teammates consisted of the lead-off batter lining out to second base, and the second out came on a groundout to first base. The final out of what was a one-two-three inning to end the game was a groundout to second baseman Zach Humphries.
For the game, Warner tossed seven complete shutout innings. He allowed no runs on two hits and three walks, collecting six strikeouts.
Hits for the Indians included Warner (two), Wyckoff (two) and Nick Lewis. Coltin Hunter and Lewis each forced a walk. The Indians left five runners on the bases, while Sheridan also left five stranded.
Next for the Indians is the Division II SE District Final game on Tuesday, May 25 at 5 p.m. The game will be played at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe. The Indians will face the winner of Miami Trace and Unioto.
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Hillsboro’s win was their 22nd of the season, moving them to 22-6 overall, and their third of this postseason. In the win on Monday evening, the Indians collected six hits and had two errors. In the loss, the Sheridan finished with two hits and two errors.
Hillsboro was the first to score a run in the game, as they wasted little time by scoring a run in the top of the first inning as Tanner Warner got things started with a base hit past the shortstop with one out on the third pitch of the at-bat.
Next for the Indians was a two-out single by Spencer Wyckoff to right field, scoring Warner from second base as he reached second on a passed ball.
The Indians added a second run in the top of the sixth inning, beginning with Ryan Scott leading off by reaching first base on an error and taking second base on the same error. Warner singled in the ensuing at-bat, moving Scott to third base.
Zach Humphries stepped to the plate and on the first pitch of the at-bat sent the ball to left field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Scott from third base, gaining the RBI in the process for a 2-0 lead.
The pitching of Warner was on point for the Indians as well, as he pitched seven strong innings. In the first inning, Warner retired the first three batters of the order with two line drive outs and a swinging strike three.
Warner and the Indians’ defense did the same in the second inning with three straight outs on a ball hit to centerfield, a called third strike and a groundout to third base. The third inning saw Sheridan gain a double and a walk, but HHS kept the runners stranded with outs on a ball hit to right field, a groundout and a Warner strikeout.
Though Sheridan (22-6) began the fourth with a walk, the next out came on a play at the plate following an error. The Indians once again gained an out at home plate, as out two of the fourth inning was another play at the plate as the Generals attempted to take home. The inning ended with Warner striking out the batter on a swinging strike three.
Warner and the Indians kept the Generals off the scoreboard in the fifth with outs on a pop up to first base, a groundout to third base and a groundout to second base. Sheridan left two runners stranded as they had a single and a walk.
It was another one-two-three inning for Warner in the bottom of the sixth as he had two strikeouts (both swinging third strikes) and a groundout.
The bottom of the seventh for Warner and his Hillsboro teammates consisted of the lead-off batter lining out to second base, and the second out came on a groundout to first base. The final out of what was a one-two-three inning to end the game was a groundout to second baseman Zach Humphries.
For the game, Warner tossed seven complete shutout innings. He allowed no runs on two hits and three walks, collecting six strikeouts.
Hits for the Indians included Warner (two), Wyckoff (two) and Nick Lewis. Coltin Hunter and Lewis each forced a walk. The Indians left five runners on the bases, while Sheridan also left five stranded.
Next for the Indians is the Division II SE District Final game on Tuesday, May 25 at 5 p.m. The game will be played at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe. The Indians will face the winner of Miami Trace and Unioto.
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