Indians have season ended in regional finals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
ASHVILLE – The Hillsboro Indians baseball team had their history-making season come to an end against the Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs by a 9-0 score in the Division II Regional Finals played at Teays Valley High School, Saturday.
The Indians finish their season as SE District champions for the first time since 1993, and the team won a regional semifinal game for the first time in program history, finishing with an overall record of 24-7, with a 5-1 mark in postseason play.
HHS head coach Matt Garman spoke about his senior class following the game, as those players included: Ryan Scott, Nick Lewis, Jeremy Kemper, Tanner Warner, Brayden Kisling, Coltin Hunter, Zach Humphries, Cullen Barney, Brad Miller and Hunter Green.
“What an incredible group of young men this senior class is,” Garman told The Highland County Press. “We talk a lot to the guys from their freshman year on about leaving a legacy and what all of that entails. We talk the most about brotherhood, and about being there for your teammates, and how if you build your team off a foundation of brotherhood, all of the other stuff will take care of itself.
“I can’t think of guys who embody that vision more than this group of seniors. They play for each other, they are unselfish, and they couldn’t care less who makes the play or who gets it done. It doesn’t matter who does something great or if someone makes an error, they are just next-play guys, and they pick each other up.”
Garman continued to talk proudly and give praise for his senior class, not just for all their 20-plus wins this season, but for the kind of people they are both on and off the field.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this senior group. In our preseason meeting every year, we have all our guys in and talk to them. One of the things we like to do is have the freshman class stand, and inevitably there are 10 to 12 freshmen who come out,” he said.
“Then we’ll have the senior class stand, and there are usually four or five because we ask an awful lot if you want to stick around our program. The number-one thing is you must be a brother to your teammates, and you have to be there for your teammates first. The biggest testament to this senior group is there are still 10 of them here. They have just absolutely loved each other, played for each other, and it has been fun watching them have the success they so deserve. As a coach and coaching staff, we were so happy to see them enjoy this ride. A month or two from now, they are going to be pretty proud of what they accomplished.”
As for the regional final contest, the game was scoreless through three innings, with the Indians leading off the game with a walk from Division II second-team All-Ohio selection Ryan Scott. He was moved to second base off a sacrifice bunt from fellow senior Tanner Warner. Following that out, Scott was stranded on at second, as the next two outs came on a pop up to the pitcher and a fly ball to centerfield.
Scott was also the starting pitcher for the Indians, and in the bottom of the first he retired the side in order with a ground ball to third base, followed by a swinging strike three and a called third strike on a full count.
The Indians left another runner on the bases in the second inning as Coltin Hunter drew a five-pitch, one-out walk. The ensuing two outs followed to end the inning on a strikeout and pop up to the shortstop.
Scott added another strikeout in the second as he faced four batters in the inning, walking one. HHS gained their first hit of the game in the third, off a single past the first baseman on an opposite field hit from Scott. Zach Humphries also reached the bases on an error, but neither runner crossed the plate as a fielder’s choice ended the inning.
Bloom-Carroll made things interesting in the bottom of the third with lead-off single, but Scott worked out of the jam with help from the HHS defense as a diving catch was made to end the inning.
The Indians were retired in order in the top of the fourth, and once the bottom of the fourth was finished, the score got away from the Tribe. Bloom-Carroll collected five hits and three walks for what went from a scoreless game to a 6-0 advantage for the Bulldogs of the Mid-State League (MSL).
HHS had two base runners in the top of the fifth, as Nick Lewis walked on five pitches (a full count), and Scott had an infield single with one out.
The BCHS half of the fifth saw them tack on three more runs for a 9-0 lead. In the inning, BCHS collected three hit-by-pitches, one walk and one hit.
In the sixth, HHS gained a lead-off hit from Hunter Green, and in the seventh Scott reached base on an error with two outs.
The loss on the mound was charged to Scott, as he pitched 3.2 innings. Also pitching were Brad Miller and Zach Humphries.
Check back for more photos from Saturday’s game.
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The Indians finish their season as SE District champions for the first time since 1993, and the team won a regional semifinal game for the first time in program history, finishing with an overall record of 24-7, with a 5-1 mark in postseason play.
HHS head coach Matt Garman spoke about his senior class following the game, as those players included: Ryan Scott, Nick Lewis, Jeremy Kemper, Tanner Warner, Brayden Kisling, Coltin Hunter, Zach Humphries, Cullen Barney, Brad Miller and Hunter Green.
“What an incredible group of young men this senior class is,” Garman told The Highland County Press. “We talk a lot to the guys from their freshman year on about leaving a legacy and what all of that entails. We talk the most about brotherhood, and about being there for your teammates, and how if you build your team off a foundation of brotherhood, all of the other stuff will take care of itself.
“I can’t think of guys who embody that vision more than this group of seniors. They play for each other, they are unselfish, and they couldn’t care less who makes the play or who gets it done. It doesn’t matter who does something great or if someone makes an error, they are just next-play guys, and they pick each other up.”
Garman continued to talk proudly and give praise for his senior class, not just for all their 20-plus wins this season, but for the kind of people they are both on and off the field.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this senior group. In our preseason meeting every year, we have all our guys in and talk to them. One of the things we like to do is have the freshman class stand, and inevitably there are 10 to 12 freshmen who come out,” he said.
“Then we’ll have the senior class stand, and there are usually four or five because we ask an awful lot if you want to stick around our program. The number-one thing is you must be a brother to your teammates, and you have to be there for your teammates first. The biggest testament to this senior group is there are still 10 of them here. They have just absolutely loved each other, played for each other, and it has been fun watching them have the success they so deserve. As a coach and coaching staff, we were so happy to see them enjoy this ride. A month or two from now, they are going to be pretty proud of what they accomplished.”
As for the regional final contest, the game was scoreless through three innings, with the Indians leading off the game with a walk from Division II second-team All-Ohio selection Ryan Scott. He was moved to second base off a sacrifice bunt from fellow senior Tanner Warner. Following that out, Scott was stranded on at second, as the next two outs came on a pop up to the pitcher and a fly ball to centerfield.
Scott was also the starting pitcher for the Indians, and in the bottom of the first he retired the side in order with a ground ball to third base, followed by a swinging strike three and a called third strike on a full count.
The Indians left another runner on the bases in the second inning as Coltin Hunter drew a five-pitch, one-out walk. The ensuing two outs followed to end the inning on a strikeout and pop up to the shortstop.
Scott added another strikeout in the second as he faced four batters in the inning, walking one. HHS gained their first hit of the game in the third, off a single past the first baseman on an opposite field hit from Scott. Zach Humphries also reached the bases on an error, but neither runner crossed the plate as a fielder’s choice ended the inning.
Bloom-Carroll made things interesting in the bottom of the third with lead-off single, but Scott worked out of the jam with help from the HHS defense as a diving catch was made to end the inning.
The Indians were retired in order in the top of the fourth, and once the bottom of the fourth was finished, the score got away from the Tribe. Bloom-Carroll collected five hits and three walks for what went from a scoreless game to a 6-0 advantage for the Bulldogs of the Mid-State League (MSL).
HHS had two base runners in the top of the fifth, as Nick Lewis walked on five pitches (a full count), and Scott had an infield single with one out.
The BCHS half of the fifth saw them tack on three more runs for a 9-0 lead. In the inning, BCHS collected three hit-by-pitches, one walk and one hit.
In the sixth, HHS gained a lead-off hit from Hunter Green, and in the seventh Scott reached base on an error with two outs.
The loss on the mound was charged to Scott, as he pitched 3.2 innings. Also pitching were Brad Miller and Zach Humphries.
Check back for more photos from Saturday’s game.
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