HHS, MHS gave all they had
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The Hillsboro and McClain baseball rivalry continues to amaze me each and every time they step between the white lines.
This past Tuesday at Shaffer Park, each team put on a display of baseball that certain Major Leaguers should take note of.
The Indians and Tigers should be proud of the way they respected the game on that Tuesday evening as they played the game the way it should be played – with passion and respect.
Not only were the first nine innings played hard in late April, but to see two teams battle the way they did for five more innings, cold turkey right off the bus, knowing first place was on the line just makes what I do for a living that much better.
I wrote a similar column last season about this same rivalry; but what I witnessed on Tuesday, will forever be ingrained in my mind.
First, let me speak about the pitching.
Jacob Dillon for the Tigers pitched a gem during his time on the hill, as did relief pitcher Zach Uhl.
Neither one of those players had absolutely anything to hang their head about, for the fact they gave the game of baseball a much-needed boost with their performances on the mound that day.
Then, there was Garrett Bell of Hillsboro.
A day earlier in a must-win South Central Ohio League game against the Miami Trace Panthers, on the road, he pitched seven innings of winning baseball.
In that game, he allowed no earned runs in five innings, and collected four strikeouts.
Less than 24 hours later, the lefty was standing on the hill, staring down batters, with his own quiet demeanor, doing what he does best: getting batters out.
Bell was limited to three innings due to OHSAA rules; but again, he allowed no runs.
Though Bell left with the game tied at nine and didn’t get the win, he pitched like a skilled craftsman during those two days on the hill.
The final pitcher for HHS in the game was Brandon Wilson.
Wilson started the game as the catcher for the Indians, switched spots in the battery and closed out the game for the Tribe to earn the win.
It wasn’t just me who felt thrilled with how each team played the game. Hillsboro head coach Rusty Swackhamer told me it was the best baseball (by both teams) he has seen in a long, long time.
In the bottom of the 14th, the game went back to that quiet lefty. But this time he made noise with his bat.
Bell, who doesn’t bat too often for the Tribe, had the “shot heard round the SCOL,” as he finished the (seemingly) never-ending game with a single to score Airic Steagall.
This game had numerous close plays at third base, a couple of plays at the plate, including Aric Carroll leaping into the air and sailing over MHS catcher Caleb Cooper. Cooper, however, turned around and applied the tag in mid-air for the out, extending the game once again.
Maybe I get a little excited when I see the game played the right way; but by God, I just want to thank the players and coaches involved for playing the game the way I wish most teams in the Major Leagues would play it.
Both the Tigers and Indians played championship baseball that Tuesday evening at Shaffer Park.
As one of my former coaches always used to tell my high school team, “Respect the Game.”
I can say without any doubt in my mind I have respect for both of the teams who battled between the lines that night in Hillsboro.
They respect the game.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor for The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
This past Tuesday at Shaffer Park, each team put on a display of baseball that certain Major Leaguers should take note of.
The Indians and Tigers should be proud of the way they respected the game on that Tuesday evening as they played the game the way it should be played – with passion and respect.
Not only were the first nine innings played hard in late April, but to see two teams battle the way they did for five more innings, cold turkey right off the bus, knowing first place was on the line just makes what I do for a living that much better.
I wrote a similar column last season about this same rivalry; but what I witnessed on Tuesday, will forever be ingrained in my mind.
First, let me speak about the pitching.
Jacob Dillon for the Tigers pitched a gem during his time on the hill, as did relief pitcher Zach Uhl.
Neither one of those players had absolutely anything to hang their head about, for the fact they gave the game of baseball a much-needed boost with their performances on the mound that day.
Then, there was Garrett Bell of Hillsboro.
A day earlier in a must-win South Central Ohio League game against the Miami Trace Panthers, on the road, he pitched seven innings of winning baseball.
In that game, he allowed no earned runs in five innings, and collected four strikeouts.
Less than 24 hours later, the lefty was standing on the hill, staring down batters, with his own quiet demeanor, doing what he does best: getting batters out.
Bell was limited to three innings due to OHSAA rules; but again, he allowed no runs.
Though Bell left with the game tied at nine and didn’t get the win, he pitched like a skilled craftsman during those two days on the hill.
The final pitcher for HHS in the game was Brandon Wilson.
Wilson started the game as the catcher for the Indians, switched spots in the battery and closed out the game for the Tribe to earn the win.
It wasn’t just me who felt thrilled with how each team played the game. Hillsboro head coach Rusty Swackhamer told me it was the best baseball (by both teams) he has seen in a long, long time.
In the bottom of the 14th, the game went back to that quiet lefty. But this time he made noise with his bat.
Bell, who doesn’t bat too often for the Tribe, had the “shot heard round the SCOL,” as he finished the (seemingly) never-ending game with a single to score Airic Steagall.
This game had numerous close plays at third base, a couple of plays at the plate, including Aric Carroll leaping into the air and sailing over MHS catcher Caleb Cooper. Cooper, however, turned around and applied the tag in mid-air for the out, extending the game once again.
Maybe I get a little excited when I see the game played the right way; but by God, I just want to thank the players and coaches involved for playing the game the way I wish most teams in the Major Leagues would play it.
Both the Tigers and Indians played championship baseball that Tuesday evening at Shaffer Park.
As one of my former coaches always used to tell my high school team, “Respect the Game.”
I can say without any doubt in my mind I have respect for both of the teams who battled between the lines that night in Hillsboro.
They respect the game.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor for The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]