Indians, Wildcats earn walk-off wins at 2019 Little Hearts, Big Smiles Baseball Classic
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
It took the Hillsboro Indians extra innings and the Whiteoak Wildcats scored a win in the final inning, as both Highland County teams earned walk-off wins on Saturday at the inaugural Little Hearts, Big Smiles Baseball Classic at VA Memorial Stadium.
A press release stated the following about the organization and the four-game baseball event: “The purpose of the event is to raise funds and awareness for the Little Hearts, Big Smiles Foundation. This foundation is a local organization that services exclusively Clinton and Highland County families. They provide services, support, information, medical equipment and much more for families with children with special needs.”
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The four-game baseball classic raised over $1,200 for the foundation.
“On behalf of the entire Hillsboro baseball program, I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in this venture by donating or buying a T-shirt,” Hillsboro head coach Matt Garman said before the event was held. “I would like to especially thank the other teams in this event, along with their coaching staffs, helping us make this a reality.”
As for the baseball event itself, the Adena Warriors defeated the Fairfield Lions, 4-1, followed by the Whiteoak Wildcats defeating the East Clinton Astros, 6-5.
Also in the event, the Clinton-Massie Falcons won over the McClain Tigers, 12-4, and the Hillsboro Indians defeated the Wilmington Hurricane, 7-6.
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Adena 4, Fairfield 1
The Fairfield Lions had trouble at the plate for the first six innings, as they were shut out until the seventh inning and didn’t gain their first baserunner of the game until the top of the fourth where Sam Buddelmeyer reached base with two outs. In the fifth inning, Andrew Dingey singled to lead off the inning.
Fairfield’s best inning came in the top of the seventh where Jacob Morgan singled to lead off the inning. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Buddelmeyer. Layne Morgan reached the bases on an infield error at third base, and eventually the lone FHS run was scored by Jacob Morgan. The game ended for the Lions on consecutive strikeouts.
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Whiteoak 6, East Clinton 5
The Whiteoak Wildcats scored the game-winning run in the seventh inning to seal their non-conference win over the East Clinton Astros, 6-5.
Whiteoak had two outs in the seventh with the first two batters of the inning. Next came a single by Traeten Hamilton, followed by the senior stealing second base, and then he stole third base as well. Hamilton was batting in for the win with a base hit by Zach Harless.
The game saw the Wildcats score one run in the first inning, followed by one run in the second and one run in the third. In the sixth, the Wildcats added two runs.
East Clinton scored three runs in the third inning and two runs in the sixth with the scoring being tied at 5-5 after six innings.
Hamilton finished 2-for-3 with one run, one walk, one hit-by-pitch and he had two steals. Harless finished 3-for-4 with one run, two RBI and one sacrifice.
Mason Lehr was 1-of-3 with two runs, and he was hit by a pitch. Also for the Wildcats, Evan Brill finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a triple.
Ty Large was walked twice, was hit by a pitch and he had one steal. Ryan Roberts walked twice in the win for WHS. Chase Butler scored one run and had one steal. Billy Oliver reached base twice on two walks.
Harless was the winning pitcher for WHS, as he pitched 1.1 innings of relief, facing four batters, allowing no runs, hits or walks and having one strikeout.
Roberts was the starting pitcher, finishing with four innings pitched in the no-decision. He allowed three runs (all earned) on seven hits and one walk. Roberts totaled one strikeout.
Also pitching in relief for WHS was Lehr, as he went 1.2 innings on the mound, He allowed two runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk, finishing with two strikeouts and two hit batters.
“Today was a day in which I feel our culture made the difference,” WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. “Winners win, and our upperclassmen ‘get that.’
“Brill, Hamilton and Harless were big-time players in the clutch today. I can't say enough about how fun it's been watching Zach grow into a baseball player. His work ethic is second to none. Ryan Roberts gave us four quality innings in the starter’s role. Zach has been impressive in the late innings on the mound recently.”
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Clinton-Massie 12, McClain 4
McClain scored three runs in the top of the first inning and one more run in the sixth, but the Clinton-Massie Falcons had other plans with two four-run innings, along with four more runs in the game to defeat the Tigers, 12-4.
The Falcons scored one run in the first inning, then they added three runs in the third and four runs each in the fifth and sixth innings.
For the game, McClain totaled six hits and three errors, while the Falcons also totaled six hits and three errors.
Six MHS players had one hit each in the non-conference game, including Colton Mossbarger, John Salyers, Cody Pollock, Garrison Banks, Eric Anderson and Evan Hutchinson.
Drawing walks for the Tigers were Salyers, Banks, and Hutchinson had two walks. Banks also collected two RBI for McClain, and Pollock also had one RBI.
Banks, Pollock and Salyers each had doubles. Salyers was hit by a pitch, and Banks had a steal.
Mason Ratcliff was charged with the loss as he had three strikeouts, while Nate Terrell and Salyers pitched in relief.
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Hillsboro 7, Wilmington 6 (8 innings)
With each team having 12 hits, it was the Hillsboro Indians who saw Grant Crum knock home the winning run on a single hit to centerfield to score Brock Haines for the 7-6 win in eight innings.
Crum led the Indians at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs, one RBI and one walk. Also with three hits was Ryan Scott at 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
As for the scoring for the game, the Hurricane led 1-0 at the end of the first inning. Next, both teams scored five runs in the third for a 6-5 lead for the ’Cane.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Indians tied the score with one run, and in the eighth came the game-winning run.
Jared Thompson was 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Ethan Humphries was also 2-for-4 at the plate.
Having one hit for the Indians were Brennen Priest and Haines.
Ethan Watson drew four walks and scored one run, while Dylan Boone scored one run, plus had an RBI and one walk.
Priest, Scott and Thompson each had a double in the win. Humphries and Watson each had a steal against Wilmington.
Watson was the winning pitcher for HHS. He pitched 0.2 innings of relief where he allowed no runs or hits in just four pitches.
Scott was the starting pitcher for the Indians, while also pitching for HHS were Tanner Warner, Brad Miller, Boone and Haines.
A press release stated the following about the organization and the four-game baseball event: “The purpose of the event is to raise funds and awareness for the Little Hearts, Big Smiles Foundation. This foundation is a local organization that services exclusively Clinton and Highland County families. They provide services, support, information, medical equipment and much more for families with children with special needs.”
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The four-game baseball classic raised over $1,200 for the foundation.
“On behalf of the entire Hillsboro baseball program, I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in this venture by donating or buying a T-shirt,” Hillsboro head coach Matt Garman said before the event was held. “I would like to especially thank the other teams in this event, along with their coaching staffs, helping us make this a reality.”
As for the baseball event itself, the Adena Warriors defeated the Fairfield Lions, 4-1, followed by the Whiteoak Wildcats defeating the East Clinton Astros, 6-5.
Also in the event, the Clinton-Massie Falcons won over the McClain Tigers, 12-4, and the Hillsboro Indians defeated the Wilmington Hurricane, 7-6.
- - -
Adena 4, Fairfield 1
The Fairfield Lions had trouble at the plate for the first six innings, as they were shut out until the seventh inning and didn’t gain their first baserunner of the game until the top of the fourth where Sam Buddelmeyer reached base with two outs. In the fifth inning, Andrew Dingey singled to lead off the inning.
Fairfield’s best inning came in the top of the seventh where Jacob Morgan singled to lead off the inning. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Buddelmeyer. Layne Morgan reached the bases on an infield error at third base, and eventually the lone FHS run was scored by Jacob Morgan. The game ended for the Lions on consecutive strikeouts.
- - -
Whiteoak 6, East Clinton 5
The Whiteoak Wildcats scored the game-winning run in the seventh inning to seal their non-conference win over the East Clinton Astros, 6-5.
Whiteoak had two outs in the seventh with the first two batters of the inning. Next came a single by Traeten Hamilton, followed by the senior stealing second base, and then he stole third base as well. Hamilton was batting in for the win with a base hit by Zach Harless.
The game saw the Wildcats score one run in the first inning, followed by one run in the second and one run in the third. In the sixth, the Wildcats added two runs.
East Clinton scored three runs in the third inning and two runs in the sixth with the scoring being tied at 5-5 after six innings.
Hamilton finished 2-for-3 with one run, one walk, one hit-by-pitch and he had two steals. Harless finished 3-for-4 with one run, two RBI and one sacrifice.
Mason Lehr was 1-of-3 with two runs, and he was hit by a pitch. Also for the Wildcats, Evan Brill finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a triple.
Ty Large was walked twice, was hit by a pitch and he had one steal. Ryan Roberts walked twice in the win for WHS. Chase Butler scored one run and had one steal. Billy Oliver reached base twice on two walks.
Harless was the winning pitcher for WHS, as he pitched 1.1 innings of relief, facing four batters, allowing no runs, hits or walks and having one strikeout.
Roberts was the starting pitcher, finishing with four innings pitched in the no-decision. He allowed three runs (all earned) on seven hits and one walk. Roberts totaled one strikeout.
Also pitching in relief for WHS was Lehr, as he went 1.2 innings on the mound, He allowed two runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk, finishing with two strikeouts and two hit batters.
“Today was a day in which I feel our culture made the difference,” WHS head coach Chris Veidt said. “Winners win, and our upperclassmen ‘get that.’
“Brill, Hamilton and Harless were big-time players in the clutch today. I can't say enough about how fun it's been watching Zach grow into a baseball player. His work ethic is second to none. Ryan Roberts gave us four quality innings in the starter’s role. Zach has been impressive in the late innings on the mound recently.”
- - -
Clinton-Massie 12, McClain 4
McClain scored three runs in the top of the first inning and one more run in the sixth, but the Clinton-Massie Falcons had other plans with two four-run innings, along with four more runs in the game to defeat the Tigers, 12-4.
The Falcons scored one run in the first inning, then they added three runs in the third and four runs each in the fifth and sixth innings.
For the game, McClain totaled six hits and three errors, while the Falcons also totaled six hits and three errors.
Six MHS players had one hit each in the non-conference game, including Colton Mossbarger, John Salyers, Cody Pollock, Garrison Banks, Eric Anderson and Evan Hutchinson.
Drawing walks for the Tigers were Salyers, Banks, and Hutchinson had two walks. Banks also collected two RBI for McClain, and Pollock also had one RBI.
Banks, Pollock and Salyers each had doubles. Salyers was hit by a pitch, and Banks had a steal.
Mason Ratcliff was charged with the loss as he had three strikeouts, while Nate Terrell and Salyers pitched in relief.
- - -
Hillsboro 7, Wilmington 6 (8 innings)
With each team having 12 hits, it was the Hillsboro Indians who saw Grant Crum knock home the winning run on a single hit to centerfield to score Brock Haines for the 7-6 win in eight innings.
Crum led the Indians at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs, one RBI and one walk. Also with three hits was Ryan Scott at 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
As for the scoring for the game, the Hurricane led 1-0 at the end of the first inning. Next, both teams scored five runs in the third for a 6-5 lead for the ’Cane.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Indians tied the score with one run, and in the eighth came the game-winning run.
Jared Thompson was 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Ethan Humphries was also 2-for-4 at the plate.
Having one hit for the Indians were Brennen Priest and Haines.
Ethan Watson drew four walks and scored one run, while Dylan Boone scored one run, plus had an RBI and one walk.
Priest, Scott and Thompson each had a double in the win. Humphries and Watson each had a steal against Wilmington.
Watson was the winning pitcher for HHS. He pitched 0.2 innings of relief where he allowed no runs or hits in just four pitches.
Scott was the starting pitcher for the Indians, while also pitching for HHS were Tanner Warner, Brad Miller, Boone and Haines.