Indians dominate against rival McClain
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — This past week, the seasons of the McClain Tigers and Hillsboro went in opposite directions. The Indians dominated the McClain Tigers Saturday morning at Thomas Hixon Field, with an 11-2 South Central Ohio League win over cross-county rival McClain in Greenfield.
This past week, the Tigers have dropped three league games, including two against the Miami Trace Panthers. MHS (9-7, 5-3) started the week at 5-0 in the SCOL but ended the week with the aforementioned three league losses.
"We are playing poorly right now, and we ran into a Hillsboro team that is playing very well right now," MHS head coach Brandon Streitenberger said. "Hillsboro is on a roll, and this was a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions.
"Hillsboro is on the way up, and we just aren't playing well."
The Indians (8-7, 5-3) have now won five straight games and currently have a 14-1 lead against the Red Raiders of London, which is currently suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning. The remainder of the game hasn't been scheduled.
"Things are finally starting to click for us," HHS head coach Tim Hunt said. "We've scored 61 runs in our last five games, everything is starting to click for us, and this is the time of year to start doing that."
On Saturday, HHS compiled 14 hits and 11 runs, scoring runs in five different innings, including a four-run third and three-run sixth. HHS also scored one run in each of the first two innings and two runs in the fourth.
"We've been talking about battling all year along. Like I said before, they just keep chipping away, and things are starting to fall in place, and that's what happens when you work hard. When you work hard, things will go in your favor.
"Top to bottom, we've been hitting. Everyone is coming through for us right now."
The Tigers were held to just two hits, as they struggled at the plate this past week. They were no-hit on Thursday against MT.
"We aren't swinging the bats. We only had two hits … and we're not hitting the ball hard. With this group, we have to good pitching and defense. Our pitching was off, and we had three errors. With this group, we live and die by our pitching, so when our pitching is a little off, it makes it difficult when we struggle at the plate."
McClain tallied their two runs in the second and sixth innings.
HHS scored in the top of the first with Brandon Wilson scoring on a sacrifice fly by Aric Carroll. Wilson began the HHS hitting with a one-out base hit, stealing second and taking third on a passed ball.
The Indians increased their lead to 2-0 in the second when Eli Hogsett, who hit a one-out double, scored on a base hit past the third baseman into left field by Chase Gilliland.
McClain answered with one run in their half of the second with Dustin Taylor scoring on a sacrifice fly from Kyle Flora. Taylor walked to begin the inning. In the inning, the Indians perfected a 7-2-5 double play coming on the sacrifice fly, with catcher Paul Snyder throwing out the runner at third and A.J. Helterbrand applying the tag.
Hillsboro made sure they didn't trail at any part of the game, scoring four runs in the third.
Helterbrand had a base hit to start the third and was brought home with a two-run home run by Snyder. Snyder followed with a double. With a new pitcher on the mound, HHS continued to reach bases, when Tyler Griego singled, scoring Carroll. Griego scored on a ground out from Hogsett.
In the fourth, HHS added two more runs, with Helterbrand and Snyder scoring runs. Snyder doubled in Helterbrand, and Carroll doubled in Snyder.
The final three runs in the sixth were scored by Helterbrand, Snyder and Carroll. Dow Kiefer had an RBI in the inning.
Greigo was credited with the win, pitching a complete seven-inning game. In just his second SCOL start, Griego now has two league wins. He faced 19 batters, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits and five walks.He finished with five strikeouts.
"Tyler threw well and was around 100 pitches today. His last two outings, he's done well. He struggled early but found his zone later in the game and did well," Hunt said.
"Griego pitched a really nice game against us," Streitenberger said. "Hillsboro hit the ball hard and had some nice shots against us. They can be a dangerous team in the tournament."
The loss went to Flora. He allowed just one earned run on six hits and two walks. Jacob Dillon and Ryan Duff pitched in relief. Dillon finished with six strikeouts, allowing two earned runs.
HHS is scheduled to host first-place Miami Trace on Monday. They are scheduled to host the Tigers on Tuesday in a make-up game. On Wednesday, HHS will host the Washington Blue Lions, and on Thursday, HHS is scheduled to host Madison-Plains.
"It's a big week for everyone. We've got all home games. This week will show what we are made of and how deep we are," Hunt said.
Streitenberger talked about what happens from here.
"All you can do is keep grinding it out. We have a tough stretch of games coming up," Streitenberger said. "We were on a roll before the layoff (rainouts). We were playing extremely well, but all the teams are in same situation."
MHS plays at London on Monday, at Hillsboro on Tuesday and home vs. Washington on Thursday. MHS still has to reschedule a game vs. Clinton-Massie.
HHS is 8-7 overall and 5-3 in the SCOL. MHS is 9-7 overall and 5-3 in the SCOL.[[In-content Ad]]
This past week, the Tigers have dropped three league games, including two against the Miami Trace Panthers. MHS (9-7, 5-3) started the week at 5-0 in the SCOL but ended the week with the aforementioned three league losses.
"We are playing poorly right now, and we ran into a Hillsboro team that is playing very well right now," MHS head coach Brandon Streitenberger said. "Hillsboro is on a roll, and this was a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions.
"Hillsboro is on the way up, and we just aren't playing well."
The Indians (8-7, 5-3) have now won five straight games and currently have a 14-1 lead against the Red Raiders of London, which is currently suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning. The remainder of the game hasn't been scheduled.
"Things are finally starting to click for us," HHS head coach Tim Hunt said. "We've scored 61 runs in our last five games, everything is starting to click for us, and this is the time of year to start doing that."
On Saturday, HHS compiled 14 hits and 11 runs, scoring runs in five different innings, including a four-run third and three-run sixth. HHS also scored one run in each of the first two innings and two runs in the fourth.
"We've been talking about battling all year along. Like I said before, they just keep chipping away, and things are starting to fall in place, and that's what happens when you work hard. When you work hard, things will go in your favor.
"Top to bottom, we've been hitting. Everyone is coming through for us right now."
The Tigers were held to just two hits, as they struggled at the plate this past week. They were no-hit on Thursday against MT.
"We aren't swinging the bats. We only had two hits … and we're not hitting the ball hard. With this group, we have to good pitching and defense. Our pitching was off, and we had three errors. With this group, we live and die by our pitching, so when our pitching is a little off, it makes it difficult when we struggle at the plate."
McClain tallied their two runs in the second and sixth innings.
HHS scored in the top of the first with Brandon Wilson scoring on a sacrifice fly by Aric Carroll. Wilson began the HHS hitting with a one-out base hit, stealing second and taking third on a passed ball.
The Indians increased their lead to 2-0 in the second when Eli Hogsett, who hit a one-out double, scored on a base hit past the third baseman into left field by Chase Gilliland.
McClain answered with one run in their half of the second with Dustin Taylor scoring on a sacrifice fly from Kyle Flora. Taylor walked to begin the inning. In the inning, the Indians perfected a 7-2-5 double play coming on the sacrifice fly, with catcher Paul Snyder throwing out the runner at third and A.J. Helterbrand applying the tag.
Hillsboro made sure they didn't trail at any part of the game, scoring four runs in the third.
Helterbrand had a base hit to start the third and was brought home with a two-run home run by Snyder. Snyder followed with a double. With a new pitcher on the mound, HHS continued to reach bases, when Tyler Griego singled, scoring Carroll. Griego scored on a ground out from Hogsett.
In the fourth, HHS added two more runs, with Helterbrand and Snyder scoring runs. Snyder doubled in Helterbrand, and Carroll doubled in Snyder.
The final three runs in the sixth were scored by Helterbrand, Snyder and Carroll. Dow Kiefer had an RBI in the inning.
Greigo was credited with the win, pitching a complete seven-inning game. In just his second SCOL start, Griego now has two league wins. He faced 19 batters, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits and five walks.He finished with five strikeouts.
"Tyler threw well and was around 100 pitches today. His last two outings, he's done well. He struggled early but found his zone later in the game and did well," Hunt said.
"Griego pitched a really nice game against us," Streitenberger said. "Hillsboro hit the ball hard and had some nice shots against us. They can be a dangerous team in the tournament."
The loss went to Flora. He allowed just one earned run on six hits and two walks. Jacob Dillon and Ryan Duff pitched in relief. Dillon finished with six strikeouts, allowing two earned runs.
HHS is scheduled to host first-place Miami Trace on Monday. They are scheduled to host the Tigers on Tuesday in a make-up game. On Wednesday, HHS will host the Washington Blue Lions, and on Thursday, HHS is scheduled to host Madison-Plains.
"It's a big week for everyone. We've got all home games. This week will show what we are made of and how deep we are," Hunt said.
Streitenberger talked about what happens from here.
"All you can do is keep grinding it out. We have a tough stretch of games coming up," Streitenberger said. "We were on a roll before the layoff (rainouts). We were playing extremely well, but all the teams are in same situation."
MHS plays at London on Monday, at Hillsboro on Tuesday and home vs. Washington on Thursday. MHS still has to reschedule a game vs. Clinton-Massie.
HHS is 8-7 overall and 5-3 in the SCOL. MHS is 9-7 overall and 5-3 in the SCOL.[[In-content Ad]]