Mustangs end season as district runners-up

ATHENS — It was a battle for a Division III SE District championship Friday night on the campus of Ohio University between the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs and the Portsmouth Trojans. Each team had positives go their way in the seven innings played, but when it mattered most, it was Portsmouth sliding into home plate for the walk-off win against the Mustangs.

The Trojans (23-6) won by a 6-5 score, as JT Williams raced home on a ball that went past the Lynchburg-Clay catcher, allowing the Trojan base runner to race home from third base to score the game-winning run, all while causing heartbreak for the Mustangs who were searching for their second district championship in program history, as their only title came back in 1997.

“I couldn't ask for any more,” Lynchburg-Clay head coach James Flowers said. “I came in with high expectations. I've known obviously the junior class carries this group. I've coached most of them their entire lives in rec ball when they started at 5 and been along for the entire ride.

“I have high expectations, and they do as well for themselves. We expected ourselves to be here. We hoped to be one game further than this, but it's how baseball goes.”

Even with the ending not wanted by Lynchburg-Clay (15-9), they were hot early on in the game, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, starting with a five-pitch walk by Elam Faust (two walks, one run), followed by Faust taking second on a groundout to first base by Josiah Burns. Next came Cole Wells (two walks, two runs) taking first base, racing safely to the base on a passed ball third strike.

Then came a double by Trevor Niehaus (1-for-4, one run) — on an 0-2 count, scoring Faust — and Braedon West (2-for-4, one run) joined in the fun with a single, scoring Wells. Also with a hit in the inning was Christian Flowers (1-for-4) with a hit, scoring Niehaus, and Austin Bell (1-for-3, SAC) had a sacrifice bunt to move base runners, though the three-run inning ended with a groundout on the ensuing at-bat. In all, the Mustangs sent eight batters to the plate.

“If you would have told me we'd started with three runs in the first tonight, I would’ve told you that’s crazy,” Flowers said. “Portsmouth is a fantastic ball team. Unfortunately, bounces didn't go our way tonight, and they did last night.

“It's been absolutely incredible. It's been a ride for sure. I’ve obviously got a bunch of kids. This is their first time in the district tournament, so I couldn't be prouder of how they played and stepped up. They never felt the pressure. They just went out and continued to perform how they do and we've done all year.”

Portsmouth answered with two runs in the bottom of the first with Jacob Roth leading off the inning with a single. After an out was recorded in centerfield, followed by a line out at shortstop, the Trojans continued the inning with a single by Trevin Brooks (who had Braxton Carr entered as a pinch runner) — scoring Jacob Roth, and Zack Roth was hit by a pitch.

Next for Portsmouth was Malachi Loper hitting a two-out single — scoring Carr —  followed by the next batter grounding out to the shortstop, leading to a 3-2 score.

LCHS built a three-run lead with their two final runs in the top of the third. This inning saw Wells lead off with a walk, followed by an out. Then West took first base on an error, followed by a pop-up out at second base.

Austin Bell kept the inning going with a two-out single, followed by Isaac Eyre drawing a walk, but the inning ended with a strikeout with the Mustangs holding a 5-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Trojans scored two runs with Loper and Colin Perry scoring runs, as Loper and Perry each reached the bases on errors. On the error that allowed Perry to reach the bases, Loper scored, while Nik Copley also reached on an error, scoring Perry for a 5-4 score. LCHS ended the inning with four errors.

Portsmouth tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with Copley hitting a single to right field, scoring Loper, as Loper led off the inning with a single. From there, he stole second and went to third on a fly ball out hit to right field before scoring the game-tying run.

For the game, the Mustangs totaled six hits, while Portsmouth totaled eight hits. Also with a hit in the game for LCHS was Cody Bell.

For the Trojans, Jacob Roth was 2-for-4, while Williams went 1-for-4 with a run. Brooks finished 1-for-3. Carr scored a run, while Zack Roth was hit by a pitch. Also for PHS, Loper was 2-for-3, with two runs, and Perry had a SAC and scored a run. Copley finished 2-for-3.

The tough-luck loss was charged to West, who pitched 6.2 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits and no walks with five strikeouts.

The win went to Deandre Berry, who pitched seven innings, allowing five runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts. 

LC’s lone senior was Micah Hall.

“I want to thank Micah Hall,” Flowers said. “He's been with us for four years. He may not have seen the field as much as some of the others, but he contributed. He’s been around this program for four years, so I thank him.

“I want to thank everybody, specifically, the administration in Lynchburg who gave me the opportunity to coach this great group of young men,” Flowers added. “I thank my assistants, Aric Fiscus and Gary West, as well as my wife, April, who puts up with my addiction to this game.”

The Mustangs finish the season at 15-9 overall, 2-1 in the tournament, and in conference play they were 11-2 (second place in SHAC Division I).

BOX SCORE
LCHS    302 000 0 — 5 6 5
PHS    200 201 1 — 6 8 1

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