Indians battle back, take control for SCOL win over Falcons
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — If it was runs you wanted Monday night by the Hillsboro Indians, it was runs you got from the Indians.
Though down early in the first two innings, the Tribe scored 16 runs in an eventual rout of the Clinton-Massie Falcons, defeating their South Central Ohio League counterpart, 16-6 at the pony league field at Shaffer Park.
HHS finished with 12 hits and 12 walks for the game.
"We battled back … we struggled the first two innings, but we were able to chip away and get runners on base," HHS head coach Tim Hunt said. "Tonight was a perfect example of working counts. I'm happy with the way we battled back.
"This is a testament to this team and the way they continue to battle back."
The blast of the night belonged to Hillsboro's Paul Snyder, as he lifted the baseball out of the ball park, which would have been out of the Indians' normal Legion field, hitting a car. Snyder's home run scored three runs, including Dow Kiefer and A.J. Hilterbrand in the bottom of the fourth inning. The long ball by Snyder, who wears No. 19, put the Indians up 8-4.
For the game, Aric Carroll went 3-for-3 with one walk. Corey Walker was 2-for-2 with three walks and two runs. Snyder was 2-for-2 with three runs and two walks.
The fourth inning by the Indians proved to be all they needed to keep the lead, as they entered the inning tied at four and finished it with a four-run lead, never trailing for the remainder of the game.
Besides the three-run shot by Snyder, a run by Walker put the Indians in the lead as the sophomore stole home with the bases loaded. Walker took off full speed from third base, easily beating the pitch to the plate.
Along with the four-run fourth, HHS scored four runs in the third and eight runs in the fifth to seal the run-rule win.
"Pitching has been an issues all year for us," CM head coach Jeskee Zantene said. "I told the kids I'd rather get beat by a team's bat, rather than walking people. Nine walks later and a couple big hits and we are run-ruled."
HHS is now 2-3 in the SCOL and 4-7 overall after 11 games. The Falcons drop to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the SCOL.
To get to the big fourth inning, the Indians had to overcome a 4-0 deficit as the Falcons scored four runs in the first two innings. CM scored one run in the first and three in the second. CM added two more runs in the fifth.
The Indians tied the score in the third with a three-hit, two-walk inning, with a sacrifice fly mixed in.
Walker began the inning with a base-on-balls, followed by Brandon Wilson reaching on a fielder's choice. Wilson took second on a passed ball. Dow Kiefer walked, and Helterbrand singled to left field, scoring Wilson.
Snyder, with one out, singled and Carroll batted in two runs with a double. Tyler Griego hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Snyder.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Indians wanted to go home before daylight went away … and that is what they did by scoring eight runs, while forcing six walks in the inning.
Eli Hogsett singled and went to third on a bunt base hit by Trevor Gleadle. Walker loaded the bases with a walk, and Hogsett scored on a passed ball. The walk by Walker was the first of six walks in the inning, including five in a row. Following the first walk, Wilson, Kiefer, Helterbrand, and Snyder all drew consecutive walks, with Walker, Gleadle and Wilson scoring.
The Indians finished the fifth with runs by Snyder and Hogsett.
Griego earned the win for the Indians, his second start of the season, and his first SCOL start of his high school career. He pitched 4 1-3 innings, with five strikeouts.
"It has been a couple weeks since Tyler's last start, and he looked good tonight," Hunt said. "A couple times he lost control, but he battled back and was more consistent. He'll be more consistent once we get a chance to play him more as we get more games in."
In the fifth, the Falcons used three pitchers and six for the game.
Gleadle was 2-for-4 for the Indians with one run, followed by Wilson with a 1-for-2 night at the plate, with a hit-by-pitch, one walk and three runs. Kiefer forced three walks with three runs. Helterbrand was 1-for-3 with two runs and one walk, and Hogsett was 1-for-3 with two runs and one walk.
The Indians committed three errors, with the Falcons committing one.
"In the first two innings, we were executing what we wanted to do,and that was playing small ball," Zantene said. "Hillsboro made a couple mistakes, and the game plan was to get my pitchers though the first five innings, then bring in Gunnar (Calhoun). Leading 4-0 we felt good, but then the mighty struggle began."
Zantene talked about what his team needs to do to get back into the winner's column.
"We need to throw strikes," he said. "We base our team around our defense … we only had one error … and when we play defense like that, we have to be able to pitch. The key is throwing strikes."
HHS will face the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles on Tuesday, at MPHS, in a make up game. The Falcons travel to Greenfield to take on the McClain Tigers, also a make-up game. Both games are scheduled for 5 p.m. starts.[[In-content Ad]]
Though down early in the first two innings, the Tribe scored 16 runs in an eventual rout of the Clinton-Massie Falcons, defeating their South Central Ohio League counterpart, 16-6 at the pony league field at Shaffer Park.
HHS finished with 12 hits and 12 walks for the game.
"We battled back … we struggled the first two innings, but we were able to chip away and get runners on base," HHS head coach Tim Hunt said. "Tonight was a perfect example of working counts. I'm happy with the way we battled back.
"This is a testament to this team and the way they continue to battle back."
The blast of the night belonged to Hillsboro's Paul Snyder, as he lifted the baseball out of the ball park, which would have been out of the Indians' normal Legion field, hitting a car. Snyder's home run scored three runs, including Dow Kiefer and A.J. Hilterbrand in the bottom of the fourth inning. The long ball by Snyder, who wears No. 19, put the Indians up 8-4.
For the game, Aric Carroll went 3-for-3 with one walk. Corey Walker was 2-for-2 with three walks and two runs. Snyder was 2-for-2 with three runs and two walks.
The fourth inning by the Indians proved to be all they needed to keep the lead, as they entered the inning tied at four and finished it with a four-run lead, never trailing for the remainder of the game.
Besides the three-run shot by Snyder, a run by Walker put the Indians in the lead as the sophomore stole home with the bases loaded. Walker took off full speed from third base, easily beating the pitch to the plate.
Along with the four-run fourth, HHS scored four runs in the third and eight runs in the fifth to seal the run-rule win.
"Pitching has been an issues all year for us," CM head coach Jeskee Zantene said. "I told the kids I'd rather get beat by a team's bat, rather than walking people. Nine walks later and a couple big hits and we are run-ruled."
HHS is now 2-3 in the SCOL and 4-7 overall after 11 games. The Falcons drop to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the SCOL.
To get to the big fourth inning, the Indians had to overcome a 4-0 deficit as the Falcons scored four runs in the first two innings. CM scored one run in the first and three in the second. CM added two more runs in the fifth.
The Indians tied the score in the third with a three-hit, two-walk inning, with a sacrifice fly mixed in.
Walker began the inning with a base-on-balls, followed by Brandon Wilson reaching on a fielder's choice. Wilson took second on a passed ball. Dow Kiefer walked, and Helterbrand singled to left field, scoring Wilson.
Snyder, with one out, singled and Carroll batted in two runs with a double. Tyler Griego hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Snyder.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Indians wanted to go home before daylight went away … and that is what they did by scoring eight runs, while forcing six walks in the inning.
Eli Hogsett singled and went to third on a bunt base hit by Trevor Gleadle. Walker loaded the bases with a walk, and Hogsett scored on a passed ball. The walk by Walker was the first of six walks in the inning, including five in a row. Following the first walk, Wilson, Kiefer, Helterbrand, and Snyder all drew consecutive walks, with Walker, Gleadle and Wilson scoring.
The Indians finished the fifth with runs by Snyder and Hogsett.
Griego earned the win for the Indians, his second start of the season, and his first SCOL start of his high school career. He pitched 4 1-3 innings, with five strikeouts.
"It has been a couple weeks since Tyler's last start, and he looked good tonight," Hunt said. "A couple times he lost control, but he battled back and was more consistent. He'll be more consistent once we get a chance to play him more as we get more games in."
In the fifth, the Falcons used three pitchers and six for the game.
Gleadle was 2-for-4 for the Indians with one run, followed by Wilson with a 1-for-2 night at the plate, with a hit-by-pitch, one walk and three runs. Kiefer forced three walks with three runs. Helterbrand was 1-for-3 with two runs and one walk, and Hogsett was 1-for-3 with two runs and one walk.
The Indians committed three errors, with the Falcons committing one.
"In the first two innings, we were executing what we wanted to do,and that was playing small ball," Zantene said. "Hillsboro made a couple mistakes, and the game plan was to get my pitchers though the first five innings, then bring in Gunnar (Calhoun). Leading 4-0 we felt good, but then the mighty struggle began."
Zantene talked about what his team needs to do to get back into the winner's column.
"We need to throw strikes," he said. "We base our team around our defense … we only had one error … and when we play defense like that, we have to be able to pitch. The key is throwing strikes."
HHS will face the Madison-Plains Golden Eagles on Tuesday, at MPHS, in a make up game. The Falcons travel to Greenfield to take on the McClain Tigers, also a make-up game. Both games are scheduled for 5 p.m. starts.[[In-content Ad]]