Indians shut out rival Tigers; sweep season series
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Sending their seniors off on a high note in their final South Central Ohio League game on Senior Night, the Hillsboro Indians took advantage of first-inning miscues and cruised to their 14th win of the season by defeating the McClain Tigers, 12-0 at Shaffer Park.
This was the Indians' second win against the Tigers this season, sweeping the season series with their cross-county rival, as they won in Greenfield earlier in the season by a 13-0 score. The win on Tuesday by the Indians leaves them 9-5 in the SCOL and 14-5 overall.
“We are playing pretty good baseball at the end of the season, and that is a good time for it,” HHS head coach Matt Garman said. “Honoring the seniors tonight before for Senior Night, we started all six seniors and they all played great.
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“Cayse was fantastic on the mound, allowing only one hit, and Hunter Chain, Corey Gausman, Brian Smith, Sajoun Jones and Jonah Humphries all played great defense. Everybody hit the ball, and this was just a feel-good win all around for the seniors on Senior Night.”
As for Tuesday night, the Indians took advantage of an error by scoring two two-out runs in the bottom of the first inning with Brian Smith (1-for-3) beginning the rally with a double down the left field line, scoring Jonah Humphries (1-for-3, SAC), who initially reached the bases on the aforementioned error.
Next, Cayse Cameron (1-for-2, HBP) was hit by a pitch, and Payton Bell (1-for-2) reached the bases on an errant throw to first base on a strikeout to be called safe. On the throw, Smith scored from third base to make it a 2-0 lead.
In the second through fourth innings, the Indians added 10 more runs, including three more runs in the second inning. Again, the Indians scored all their runs with two outs, with Mason Stanley (2-for-3) getting the rally going on a double to the left field fence. He scored on the ensuing at-bat, then Humphries singled to centerfield for the RBI.
In one swing of the bat, the HHS lead went from three runs to five as Hunter Chain (1-for-3) hit a two-run home run over the left field fence (around 350 feet) for a 5-0 lead.
The Indians scored four runs in the bottom of the third for a 9-0 advantage. HHS opened the inning with Cameron reaching first base safely on an infield error committed by the Tigers, followed by Bell stealing second. Sajoun Jones (1-for-2, BB) followed with a walk, and Justin Scott (1-for-2) singled with a blooper to centerfield, scoring Bell.
From there, Corey Gausman (two SAC) hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI that scored Jones. Next, Stanley singled, then Humphries hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Gausman for a 9-0 lead.
HHS scored three runs in the fourth with Cameron, Ethan Watson (1-for-1) and Jones all rounding the bases for the final 12-0 lead. The scoring began with Cameron reaching base on an infield base hit, followed by singles by Watson and Jones, with Jones’ hit scoring Cameron. Aaron Watson followed by taking first on an error that scored Ethan Watson. Jones scored the final run off a sacrifice fly off the bat of Gausman. Also in the inning, Kelton Anderson drew a two-out walk.
On the mound, Cameron was on point. In four innings, he allowed one hit and no runs. Cameron totaled nine strikeouts in the win, including striking out seven consecutive batters starting from the last out of the second inning, then three batters in the third and three batters in the fourth. In all, Cameron faced 12 batters.
Jones pitched the fifth inning for the Indians. He allowed no runs on no hits and one walk and had one strikeout, ending the game with the strikeout.
The lone hit made by the Tigers came in the top of the first inning off the bat of Austin Booth with one out.
“Our effort was terrible in the field,” MHS head coach Rich Bunner said. “I just talked with the guys, and I can handle getting beat. Hillsboro is a great team, but our effort wasn’t there and we had a discussion about that.
“You can’t take anything away from Hillsboro. They are a good hitting team, and their pitcher is one of the best in the area. He’s the real deal, but we just didn’t show up.”
The Indians still have some non-league games left on the schedule with a game at Fairfield on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Milford on Thursday, then the Indians will be at Batavia on Friday.
“We are just trying to finish the season hot, finish on a high note and get in tournament form,” Garman said.
This was the final regular-season game for the Tigers, as they will play on Monday, May 8 in a tournament game they will host at Mitchell Park against New Lexington at 5 p.m.
The Indians play their first tournament game on Thursday, May 11 at Shaffer Park when they host Logan Elm at 5 p.m.
This was the Indians' second win against the Tigers this season, sweeping the season series with their cross-county rival, as they won in Greenfield earlier in the season by a 13-0 score. The win on Tuesday by the Indians leaves them 9-5 in the SCOL and 14-5 overall.
“We are playing pretty good baseball at the end of the season, and that is a good time for it,” HHS head coach Matt Garman said. “Honoring the seniors tonight before for Senior Night, we started all six seniors and they all played great.
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“Cayse was fantastic on the mound, allowing only one hit, and Hunter Chain, Corey Gausman, Brian Smith, Sajoun Jones and Jonah Humphries all played great defense. Everybody hit the ball, and this was just a feel-good win all around for the seniors on Senior Night.”
As for Tuesday night, the Indians took advantage of an error by scoring two two-out runs in the bottom of the first inning with Brian Smith (1-for-3) beginning the rally with a double down the left field line, scoring Jonah Humphries (1-for-3, SAC), who initially reached the bases on the aforementioned error.
Next, Cayse Cameron (1-for-2, HBP) was hit by a pitch, and Payton Bell (1-for-2) reached the bases on an errant throw to first base on a strikeout to be called safe. On the throw, Smith scored from third base to make it a 2-0 lead.
In the second through fourth innings, the Indians added 10 more runs, including three more runs in the second inning. Again, the Indians scored all their runs with two outs, with Mason Stanley (2-for-3) getting the rally going on a double to the left field fence. He scored on the ensuing at-bat, then Humphries singled to centerfield for the RBI.
In one swing of the bat, the HHS lead went from three runs to five as Hunter Chain (1-for-3) hit a two-run home run over the left field fence (around 350 feet) for a 5-0 lead.
The Indians scored four runs in the bottom of the third for a 9-0 advantage. HHS opened the inning with Cameron reaching first base safely on an infield error committed by the Tigers, followed by Bell stealing second. Sajoun Jones (1-for-2, BB) followed with a walk, and Justin Scott (1-for-2) singled with a blooper to centerfield, scoring Bell.
From there, Corey Gausman (two SAC) hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI that scored Jones. Next, Stanley singled, then Humphries hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Gausman for a 9-0 lead.
HHS scored three runs in the fourth with Cameron, Ethan Watson (1-for-1) and Jones all rounding the bases for the final 12-0 lead. The scoring began with Cameron reaching base on an infield base hit, followed by singles by Watson and Jones, with Jones’ hit scoring Cameron. Aaron Watson followed by taking first on an error that scored Ethan Watson. Jones scored the final run off a sacrifice fly off the bat of Gausman. Also in the inning, Kelton Anderson drew a two-out walk.
On the mound, Cameron was on point. In four innings, he allowed one hit and no runs. Cameron totaled nine strikeouts in the win, including striking out seven consecutive batters starting from the last out of the second inning, then three batters in the third and three batters in the fourth. In all, Cameron faced 12 batters.
Jones pitched the fifth inning for the Indians. He allowed no runs on no hits and one walk and had one strikeout, ending the game with the strikeout.
The lone hit made by the Tigers came in the top of the first inning off the bat of Austin Booth with one out.
“Our effort was terrible in the field,” MHS head coach Rich Bunner said. “I just talked with the guys, and I can handle getting beat. Hillsboro is a great team, but our effort wasn’t there and we had a discussion about that.
“You can’t take anything away from Hillsboro. They are a good hitting team, and their pitcher is one of the best in the area. He’s the real deal, but we just didn’t show up.”
The Indians still have some non-league games left on the schedule with a game at Fairfield on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Milford on Thursday, then the Indians will be at Batavia on Friday.
“We are just trying to finish the season hot, finish on a high note and get in tournament form,” Garman said.
This was the final regular-season game for the Tigers, as they will play on Monday, May 8 in a tournament game they will host at Mitchell Park against New Lexington at 5 p.m.
The Indians play their first tournament game on Thursday, May 11 at Shaffer Park when they host Logan Elm at 5 p.m.