Branscom earns 1st win as McClain head coach; Tigers defeat Fairfield
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — The McClain Tigers earned their first win of the 2021 season, and in doing so McClain also gave varsity head coach Kenny Branscom his first career win as the Tigers defeated Highland County rival Fairfield, 4-1.
The Tigers and Lions were tied at 1-1 after four innings, as MHS took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Later, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lions tied the score at 1-1 with a run scored.
McClain (1-2) scored their first run of the game as Kaden Penwell (2-for-4, two RBI) hit a line drive single to left field with one out. Next was a double by Mason Ratcliff, but the Lions responded with a play at third base for the second out of the inning.
Ratcliff moved to third base, as Wesley Potts reached second. Potts finished 2-for-3.
The first run of the game was scored when Landen Gilbert singled to third base, allowing Ratcliff to race home for the 1-0 McClain lead.
“We’ve been struggling at the plate here recently,” Branscom said. “Our first two games this season weren’t the prettiest. We’ve got jitters. COVID obviously put us behind the 8-ball, as it has everybody, and to be able to come out tonight and constantly put the ball in play really helps us moving forward.”
Coach Branscom also spoke about the Tigers and their hustle in the win.
“It’s been a discussion this whole week that we need to stay aggressive,” he said. “We’re going to play the game of baseball the way it’s meant to be played, and that’s all-out, all the time.”
Fairfield (0-2) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, beginning with a double by Noah Allering to lead off the half inning. Allering took third base on a passed ball. With one out, Hunter Burns grounded out to third base, scoring Allering for the 1-1 score.
McClain took control of the game in the top of the fifth as Carson Spangler got things rolling with a one-out walk, followed by a steal of second base. Next, Haydon Hice was hit by a pitch to put two runners on the bases.
The Tigers took the lead when Trevor Stonerock hit into a fielder’s choice, and in an attempt to get the lead runner out, the ball sailed past the third baseman on the throw, scoring Spangler on the errant throw.
McClain added two more runs in the next at-bat as Penwell singled to left field, scoring both Hice and Stonerock for the 4-1 lead.
“Kaden Penwell is a freshman, and that kid continues to grow and continues to impress in our two-hole tonight,” Branscom said. “We had all 10 kids here tonight that contributed, and that helped us get that win.”
Fairfield managed to have base runners in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but left all five runners on the bases. For the game, the Lions had six errors, while McClain committed three errors.
Ratcliff was also the winning pitcher, as he pitched all seven innings for a complete game. In 79 pitches, Ratcliff allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk. He totaled five strikeouts in the win.
“Mason does a great job out on the mound for us. With me calling pitches, we’re able to mix things up really well and keep hitters off-balanced,” Branscom said.
Finishing with one hit each for Fairfield were Allering, Wyatt Collins and Logan Rohde. Miller finished with a walk, while he also had a stolen base. Also with a steal was Allering.
“Right now, we’re struggling at the plate, but we had that one inning. It was tied 1-1 in the top of the fourth and we had a walk, a hit batter, a couple mistakes and they executed off of it,” FHS head coach Jeremy McGraw said. “It’s just little things right now. I don’t want to use young as an excuse, but we’ve got some young kids. We’ve just got to fight through it, and we’ll get better.”
Both teams each left five runners stranded on the bases.
Allering was charged with the loss, as he pitched five innings in the start. He allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits and and one walk, while also striking out three batters.
Cade Miller pitched two innings of relief for the Lions, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks. Miller totaled two strikeouts.
“That’s two days in a row we’ve pitched well. We’re getting routine ground balls, and our pitching’s doing a really good job,” McGraw said. “We’ve just got to give them some run support. That’s the key. We can’t score one run in a game and expect to win.”
As for McClain’s Branscom, he reflected some more on the first win as a varsity head coach at McClain.
“The first one is always special. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of my wife,” Branscom said. “She is my coaching career decision maker. She told me to go to Adena with Tom (Barr) when I wasn’t sure, and she told me to accept the job here at McClain.
“My kids are baseball fans too. My grandpa and dad have always been my biggest fans. I really felt my grandpa’s smile and pride from heaven tonight. And I couldn’t leave out my mentor and the man who pushed me to go get my own baseball program to do great things with, Tom Barr. We literally talk or text after every game and he always has great advice to give me.
“Brian Smith is another coach that helps keep things in perspective and offers up a ton of useful advice,” Branscom continued. “Last but not least are my players. They have become my guys, my family. They have bought in and are helping to provide the leadership I need to help rebuild this program at McClain. I couldn’t be doing any of this without them. I couldn’t be doing any of this without all these people.”
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The Tigers and Lions were tied at 1-1 after four innings, as MHS took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Later, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lions tied the score at 1-1 with a run scored.
McClain (1-2) scored their first run of the game as Kaden Penwell (2-for-4, two RBI) hit a line drive single to left field with one out. Next was a double by Mason Ratcliff, but the Lions responded with a play at third base for the second out of the inning.
Ratcliff moved to third base, as Wesley Potts reached second. Potts finished 2-for-3.
The first run of the game was scored when Landen Gilbert singled to third base, allowing Ratcliff to race home for the 1-0 McClain lead.
“We’ve been struggling at the plate here recently,” Branscom said. “Our first two games this season weren’t the prettiest. We’ve got jitters. COVID obviously put us behind the 8-ball, as it has everybody, and to be able to come out tonight and constantly put the ball in play really helps us moving forward.”
Coach Branscom also spoke about the Tigers and their hustle in the win.
“It’s been a discussion this whole week that we need to stay aggressive,” he said. “We’re going to play the game of baseball the way it’s meant to be played, and that’s all-out, all the time.”
Fairfield (0-2) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, beginning with a double by Noah Allering to lead off the half inning. Allering took third base on a passed ball. With one out, Hunter Burns grounded out to third base, scoring Allering for the 1-1 score.
McClain took control of the game in the top of the fifth as Carson Spangler got things rolling with a one-out walk, followed by a steal of second base. Next, Haydon Hice was hit by a pitch to put two runners on the bases.
The Tigers took the lead when Trevor Stonerock hit into a fielder’s choice, and in an attempt to get the lead runner out, the ball sailed past the third baseman on the throw, scoring Spangler on the errant throw.
McClain added two more runs in the next at-bat as Penwell singled to left field, scoring both Hice and Stonerock for the 4-1 lead.
“Kaden Penwell is a freshman, and that kid continues to grow and continues to impress in our two-hole tonight,” Branscom said. “We had all 10 kids here tonight that contributed, and that helped us get that win.”
Fairfield managed to have base runners in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but left all five runners on the bases. For the game, the Lions had six errors, while McClain committed three errors.
Ratcliff was also the winning pitcher, as he pitched all seven innings for a complete game. In 79 pitches, Ratcliff allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk. He totaled five strikeouts in the win.
“Mason does a great job out on the mound for us. With me calling pitches, we’re able to mix things up really well and keep hitters off-balanced,” Branscom said.
Finishing with one hit each for Fairfield were Allering, Wyatt Collins and Logan Rohde. Miller finished with a walk, while he also had a stolen base. Also with a steal was Allering.
“Right now, we’re struggling at the plate, but we had that one inning. It was tied 1-1 in the top of the fourth and we had a walk, a hit batter, a couple mistakes and they executed off of it,” FHS head coach Jeremy McGraw said. “It’s just little things right now. I don’t want to use young as an excuse, but we’ve got some young kids. We’ve just got to fight through it, and we’ll get better.”
Both teams each left five runners stranded on the bases.
Allering was charged with the loss, as he pitched five innings in the start. He allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits and and one walk, while also striking out three batters.
Cade Miller pitched two innings of relief for the Lions, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks. Miller totaled two strikeouts.
“That’s two days in a row we’ve pitched well. We’re getting routine ground balls, and our pitching’s doing a really good job,” McGraw said. “We’ve just got to give them some run support. That’s the key. We can’t score one run in a game and expect to win.”
As for McClain’s Branscom, he reflected some more on the first win as a varsity head coach at McClain.
“The first one is always special. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support of my wife,” Branscom said. “She is my coaching career decision maker. She told me to go to Adena with Tom (Barr) when I wasn’t sure, and she told me to accept the job here at McClain.
“My kids are baseball fans too. My grandpa and dad have always been my biggest fans. I really felt my grandpa’s smile and pride from heaven tonight. And I couldn’t leave out my mentor and the man who pushed me to go get my own baseball program to do great things with, Tom Barr. We literally talk or text after every game and he always has great advice to give me.
“Brian Smith is another coach that helps keep things in perspective and offers up a ton of useful advice,” Branscom continued. “Last but not least are my players. They have become my guys, my family. They have bought in and are helping to provide the leadership I need to help rebuild this program at McClain. I couldn’t be doing any of this without them. I couldn’t be doing any of this without all these people.”
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