Mustangs start postseason with 16 runs in win over Oak Hill

Back in the postseason tournament after a historic tournament run a year ago, the No. 3 seeded Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs shut out the No. 14 seeded Oak Hill Oaks 16-0 in their Division V SE DIstrict Quarterfinal game at Lynchburg-Clay High School. 

The Mustangs (20-6) allowed just two hits, had 11 hits of their own and committed no errors in the win. Oak Hill finished the game with four errors. 

Lynchburg-Clay — the Division V No. 4 state-ranked team — scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, then in the third they tacked on 10 runs for a 14-run lead over the visitors. The Mustangs added two final runs in the bottom of the fourth. 

LC’s first inning saw Trevor Niehaus hit a single to right field, plating both Elam Faust and Harley Lewis, as Lewis led off with a walk on four pitches, and Faust was hit by a pitch. The score increased to 4-0 in favor of the Mustangs when Niehaus stole third base, and Kristian Beachy (who walked to reach first) stole second in the double steal. Tanner Roberts then hit a ground ball to second base and was called safe at first on an error, scoring both Beachy and Niehaus. 

The third inning saw 16 plate appearances by the Mustangs, resulting in 10 runs crossing the plate for the 14-0 lead. The bottom of the inning began with a single hit by Beachy, followed by a base hit by Roberts. Following an out, Caden Boone reached the bases on an error, scoring Roberts and Beachy. 

Boone went to third on a single off the bat of Aric Slack, then both runners scored as Lewis smashed a triple to right field with a two-strike count. The Mustangs’ lead went to nine runs following a base hit to left field by Faust, scoring Lewis. 

Then, following a four-pitch walk by Quin Wells, Niehaus singled to centerfield, scoring Faust for a 10-run lead. 

Next was a walk by Beachy, loading the bases, which allowed Roberts to hit a single past the shortstop to plate Wells. LCHS took a 12-0 lead when Max Baker drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Niehaus. A single by Boone made it a 13-0 score as Beachy scored a run from third base. LC’s 14th run of the game came following a bases-loaded walk by Slack, scoring Roberts. 

The bottom of the fourth inning included Wells scoring a run off a base hit by Roberts. The 16th Lynchburg-Clay run of the contest saw Owen Faust score a run following a bases-loaded walk by Slack. Owen Faust ended the game as a pinch runner, allowing him to round the bases and score the run. 

Roberts led LCHS with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two runs, four RBI and two steals. Niehaus was 2-for-4 with two runs, three RBI and two steals. 

Lewis finished 1-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, a walk, a triple and a steal. Elam Faust ended the day at 1-for-3 with two runs, one RBI, a HBP and five steals. Wells was 1-for-3 with two runs, a walk and a steal. 

Beachy finished 1-for-3 with three runs, two walks and two steals. Boone was 1-for-2 with one run, three RBI, a steal, one HBP and a steal. 

Slack was 1-for-2 with a run, two RBI and two walks. Owen Faust scored a run and stole two bases. Baker collected an RBI and a walk. Aiden Bene had one steal in the win. 

Wells was the winning pitcher, going 4.1 innings on the mound, as he allowed no earned runs on two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Wells, a sophomore, threw 60 pitches. Niehaus pitched 0.2 innings in relief, allowing no runs, hits or walks with one strikeout. 

Next for the Mustangs is a Division V SE District Semifinal game on Tuesday, May 26 against the winner of No. 6 seeded Portsmouth and No. 11 seeded Albany Alexander at 1:30 p.m. at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe. 

BOX SCORE
OHHS    000 00x x — 0 2 4 
LCHS    40(10) 2xx x — 16 11 0