Strong early start lifts Hillsboro Indians past Miami Trace
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro Indians are on a five-game winning streak, and they gained that fifth win Monday at Shaffer Park as they scored three runs early on, then set the tone for the remainder of the game with the pitching of Ethan Humphries for a 5-1 Frontier Athletic Conference win.
Humphries allowed a few runners on the bases with the Panthers gaining five total hits and drawing one walk, but overall in the grand scheme of the game, Humphries did his job and then some as he and his teammates overcame a total of six errors by the defense of Hillsboro to seal the win.
[[In-content Ad]]
The starting pitcher Humphries not only pitched all seven innings, but he allowed just one run — the Panthers were scoreless through six innings — where he also finished with four strikeouts in the win. For the game, Humphries threw 86 pitches, with 61 going for strikes. Twenty-three of the batters he faced saw a first-pitch strike.
Now at the plate for the Indians, they got the game started early for their side of the scoreboard with Hillsboro scoring three runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-0 lead.
Ethan Watson opened the Indians’ plate appearances with a six-pitch walk, followed by Watson going to second on an infield error, which allowed Grant Crum to be safe at first base. Next, the bat of Jared Thompson came into play, and he did damage with a hard-hit double hit to right field — on a 2-2 count — scoring both Watson and Crum for the 2-0 lead.
Following an out via fly ball and then another fly ball out to centerfield, Ryan Scott didn’t leave Thompson stranded on the bases. Rather, he sent a line drive base hit to right field to plate Thompson from second base, pushing the Indians’ lead to 3-0.
Hillsboro (3-0, 8-3) wasn’t finished scoring runs, as they added one run in the fifth inning, then equaled the feat in the sixth inning for a 5-0 advantage.
The run in the bottom of the fifth came with Crum doubling on a ball crushed to left field. Crum then moved to third base following a wild pitch. Dylan Boone followed by drawing a walk to load the bases. Crum crossed home plate on a single by Magulac past the shortstop to make it a 4-0 score.
Hillsboro’s final run came in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by Magulac past the shortstop again for the five-run advantage.
The Panthers broke the shutout with a run in the top of the seventh.
For the game, the Indians totaled eight hits with Magulac going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Also with two hits was Thompson as he finished 2-for-3 with one run, two RBI and a walk.
Having one hit each were Watson (one run, one walk), Crum (two runs), Scott (one RBI) and Warner (one run). Dylan Boone totaled two walks for the Indians in the win.
Hillsboro’s win moves them to 3-0 in the FAC and 8-3 overall. Miami Trace now stands at 5-2 overall, 1-2 in the FAC.
Next for Hillsboro is a home game on Wednesday, April 10 against FAC counterpart Chillicothe at 5 p.m. at Shaffer Park.
Humphries allowed a few runners on the bases with the Panthers gaining five total hits and drawing one walk, but overall in the grand scheme of the game, Humphries did his job and then some as he and his teammates overcame a total of six errors by the defense of Hillsboro to seal the win.
[[In-content Ad]]
The starting pitcher Humphries not only pitched all seven innings, but he allowed just one run — the Panthers were scoreless through six innings — where he also finished with four strikeouts in the win. For the game, Humphries threw 86 pitches, with 61 going for strikes. Twenty-three of the batters he faced saw a first-pitch strike.
Now at the plate for the Indians, they got the game started early for their side of the scoreboard with Hillsboro scoring three runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-0 lead.
Ethan Watson opened the Indians’ plate appearances with a six-pitch walk, followed by Watson going to second on an infield error, which allowed Grant Crum to be safe at first base. Next, the bat of Jared Thompson came into play, and he did damage with a hard-hit double hit to right field — on a 2-2 count — scoring both Watson and Crum for the 2-0 lead.
Following an out via fly ball and then another fly ball out to centerfield, Ryan Scott didn’t leave Thompson stranded on the bases. Rather, he sent a line drive base hit to right field to plate Thompson from second base, pushing the Indians’ lead to 3-0.
Hillsboro (3-0, 8-3) wasn’t finished scoring runs, as they added one run in the fifth inning, then equaled the feat in the sixth inning for a 5-0 advantage.
The run in the bottom of the fifth came with Crum doubling on a ball crushed to left field. Crum then moved to third base following a wild pitch. Dylan Boone followed by drawing a walk to load the bases. Crum crossed home plate on a single by Magulac past the shortstop to make it a 4-0 score.
Hillsboro’s final run came in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by Magulac past the shortstop again for the five-run advantage.
The Panthers broke the shutout with a run in the top of the seventh.
For the game, the Indians totaled eight hits with Magulac going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Also with two hits was Thompson as he finished 2-for-3 with one run, two RBI and a walk.
Having one hit each were Watson (one run, one walk), Crum (two runs), Scott (one RBI) and Warner (one run). Dylan Boone totaled two walks for the Indians in the win.
Hillsboro’s win moves them to 3-0 in the FAC and 8-3 overall. Miami Trace now stands at 5-2 overall, 1-2 in the FAC.
Next for Hillsboro is a home game on Wednesday, April 10 against FAC counterpart Chillicothe at 5 p.m. at Shaffer Park.