Hillsboro advances with two-out rally
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
It wasn't easy, that much we know for sure.
But the ninth inning for the Hillsboro Post 129 team … that was the stuff of legend, as they not only scored three runs with their back against the wall, but they scored those runs with two outs and just two strikes remaining to advance in the Region 5 tournament, defeating Portsmouth Post 23, 3-2 Thursday night at Shaffer Park.
The No. 3 seeded Post 129 scoring onslaught came out of nowhere, as the previous eight innings they were held scoreless and to just one hit.
But in tournament play, the games are scheduled for nine innings, and Hillsboro took full advantage of that final inning, not only advancing in the winner's bracket, but jumping back up to the .500 mark at 19-19 overall.
Post 129 will play at No. 2 seeded Waverly Post 142 on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the second round of the Region 5 tournament. Waverly defeated Chillicothe Post 62, 11-10 in 10 innings, Thursday.
The ninth began with Zach Docter leading off with a base hit to right field. That hit was followed quickly with a strikeout and a fly ball to centerfield.
Hillsboro didn't panic, as they had veteran players step up when they absolutely needed them the most, and for that, Post 129 was able to defend their home field one final time this summer.
Corey Walker kept the game going with an infield base hit on a 2-2 count, and Tyler Griego batted in both Docter and Walker with a double to centerfield, tying the score at 2-2.
The game came down to dominant Portsmouth pitcher Derek Moore and Hillsboro batter Joey Wilson. Though Moore won almost every battle on Thursday, it was Wilson who got the much-needed hit to seal the win for Post 129, as he sent the ball to centerfield on a 1-1 count, allowing Griego to beat the throw home with a head-first slide for the win.
When it could have been easy for Hillsboro to pack up after the way the game went for the first eight innings, they didn't, and that fact wasn't lost on Hillsboro head coach Scott Morgan.
"The entire year, this team hasn't quit or given up," he said. "They realize the games aren't over until the final out, and they did a nice job when we needed them to."
Morgan also spoke about sending Griego home with two outs and the game on the line.
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"I just figured we needed to get the run then," he said. "To get that opportunity then and trying not to go into extras, we had to try something to get the win.
"Doc (Docter) had a huge hit to get the inning going, and we did this against the best pitcher in the league. In that last inning, we hit line drives, and you have to do that against a pitcher like him."
Walker was also the winning pitcher for Hillsboro, pitching 1.1 innings of relief. Walker entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of 8th inning. He forced a groundout to the first batter he faced to keep Hillsboro's deficit to two runs. Walker finished with one strikeout as he faced six batters.
Griego pitched the first seven innings for Hillsboro, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks. He struck out four and didn't allow a hit until the first batter of the fourth inning.
Jared Halley pitched 0.2 innings of relief in the eighth inning.
"All three of our pitchers did well," Morgan said. "We have the pitching to go deep into the tournament. To get a win against Portsmouth with Moore on the mound is big."
For Portsmouth, they were led by the pitching of Moore, who was dominant for eight innings. The Wheelersburg graduate struck out 12 batters, including the side in the eighth.
Post 23 scored their first run in the top of the sixth with Shears rounding the bases and one more run in the seventh with Kenyon crossing home plate.
"Being a nine-inning game … a lot can happen," Morgan said. "We finished third in our league, and that is a heck of an attribute to these kids because of the way we started this season."
But the ninth inning for the Hillsboro Post 129 team … that was the stuff of legend, as they not only scored three runs with their back against the wall, but they scored those runs with two outs and just two strikes remaining to advance in the Region 5 tournament, defeating Portsmouth Post 23, 3-2 Thursday night at Shaffer Park.
The No. 3 seeded Post 129 scoring onslaught came out of nowhere, as the previous eight innings they were held scoreless and to just one hit.
But in tournament play, the games are scheduled for nine innings, and Hillsboro took full advantage of that final inning, not only advancing in the winner's bracket, but jumping back up to the .500 mark at 19-19 overall.
Post 129 will play at No. 2 seeded Waverly Post 142 on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the second round of the Region 5 tournament. Waverly defeated Chillicothe Post 62, 11-10 in 10 innings, Thursday.
The ninth began with Zach Docter leading off with a base hit to right field. That hit was followed quickly with a strikeout and a fly ball to centerfield.
Hillsboro didn't panic, as they had veteran players step up when they absolutely needed them the most, and for that, Post 129 was able to defend their home field one final time this summer.
Corey Walker kept the game going with an infield base hit on a 2-2 count, and Tyler Griego batted in both Docter and Walker with a double to centerfield, tying the score at 2-2.
The game came down to dominant Portsmouth pitcher Derek Moore and Hillsboro batter Joey Wilson. Though Moore won almost every battle on Thursday, it was Wilson who got the much-needed hit to seal the win for Post 129, as he sent the ball to centerfield on a 1-1 count, allowing Griego to beat the throw home with a head-first slide for the win.
When it could have been easy for Hillsboro to pack up after the way the game went for the first eight innings, they didn't, and that fact wasn't lost on Hillsboro head coach Scott Morgan.
"The entire year, this team hasn't quit or given up," he said. "They realize the games aren't over until the final out, and they did a nice job when we needed them to."
Morgan also spoke about sending Griego home with two outs and the game on the line.
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"I just figured we needed to get the run then," he said. "To get that opportunity then and trying not to go into extras, we had to try something to get the win.
"Doc (Docter) had a huge hit to get the inning going, and we did this against the best pitcher in the league. In that last inning, we hit line drives, and you have to do that against a pitcher like him."
Walker was also the winning pitcher for Hillsboro, pitching 1.1 innings of relief. Walker entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of 8th inning. He forced a groundout to the first batter he faced to keep Hillsboro's deficit to two runs. Walker finished with one strikeout as he faced six batters.
Griego pitched the first seven innings for Hillsboro, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks. He struck out four and didn't allow a hit until the first batter of the fourth inning.
Jared Halley pitched 0.2 innings of relief in the eighth inning.
"All three of our pitchers did well," Morgan said. "We have the pitching to go deep into the tournament. To get a win against Portsmouth with Moore on the mound is big."
For Portsmouth, they were led by the pitching of Moore, who was dominant for eight innings. The Wheelersburg graduate struck out 12 batters, including the side in the eighth.
Post 23 scored their first run in the top of the sixth with Shears rounding the bases and one more run in the seventh with Kenyon crossing home plate.
"Being a nine-inning game … a lot can happen," Morgan said. "We finished third in our league, and that is a heck of an attribute to these kids because of the way we started this season."