Hillsboro falls in Wooden Bat opener
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Hillsboro Post 129's overall hitting improved from the previous home games this week, but the key hits with runners on the bases were still too few. Post 129's lack of key hitting sent them to their 10th loss of the season, falling to Findlay, 7-1 in the opener for the annual Wooden Bat Tournament at Shaffer Park.
Post 129 (5-10) now has lost four consecutive games at home, as they host three more home games this weekend. On Saturday, Post 129 will host Chillicothe Post 757 at 3 p.m. on the Legion Field and the Troy Bombers at 5:30 p.m. on field two. On Sunday at 12:30 p.m., Hillsboro is scheduled to face Westerville South on the Legion Field.
The championship game between the two teams with the best records will be held at 3 p.m. on the Legion Field.
As for Friday night's contest, a win just wasn't in the books for Hillsboro, who were the away team on the scoreboard.
"We have to start playing as a team," Post 129 head coach Scott Morgan said. "(Friday) our body language was awful, and that can't continue to happen.
"Our strikeouts were down, but like I've been saying, we need the key hits."
Findlay was first to score in the bottom of the first, but Post 129 was able to make it a 1-1 game in the top of the third when Corey Walker scored on an infield base hit by Jesse Halley with two outs. Walker reached the bases on a single off the mound, rolling into centerfield.
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The tied score didn't last long as Findlay put four runs on the board in the fourth and one in the fifth for a 6-1 advantage. Findlay added their final run in the sixth inning for the six-run advantage.
Camden Vinup led Post 129 at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk. Gaining one hit each were Walker, Tyler Griego, Halley, Tyler Williams and Derek Peters.
As a team, Hillsboro was 7-for-27 with one walk.
The loss was charged to Austin Merkle, who pitched 4.2 innings, followed by Zach Docter pitching 2.1 innings of relief. Merkle allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits and five walks. Merkle struck out two.
"Merkle didn't pitch bad," Morgan said. "Zach came in and got us out of some situations. He's been consistent and did well."
Docter entered the game in the bottom of the fifth with two outs as Findlay had runners on first and second base.
The sixth run that scored came on a passed ball to set up the scenario for Docter's entrance into the game.
Docter allowed one earned run on two hits. He struck out one.
Again, leaving runners stranded was a problem for Post 129 as they left five stranded in the loss.
Leading Findlay at the plate were Jordan Harpst, the leadoff hitter, and Tyler Harris, both going 2-for-3 with a walk each.
Findlay left 11 runners stranded, including the bases loaded in the third inning.
Post 129 (5-10) now has lost four consecutive games at home, as they host three more home games this weekend. On Saturday, Post 129 will host Chillicothe Post 757 at 3 p.m. on the Legion Field and the Troy Bombers at 5:30 p.m. on field two. On Sunday at 12:30 p.m., Hillsboro is scheduled to face Westerville South on the Legion Field.
The championship game between the two teams with the best records will be held at 3 p.m. on the Legion Field.
As for Friday night's contest, a win just wasn't in the books for Hillsboro, who were the away team on the scoreboard.
"We have to start playing as a team," Post 129 head coach Scott Morgan said. "(Friday) our body language was awful, and that can't continue to happen.
"Our strikeouts were down, but like I've been saying, we need the key hits."
Findlay was first to score in the bottom of the first, but Post 129 was able to make it a 1-1 game in the top of the third when Corey Walker scored on an infield base hit by Jesse Halley with two outs. Walker reached the bases on a single off the mound, rolling into centerfield.
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The tied score didn't last long as Findlay put four runs on the board in the fourth and one in the fifth for a 6-1 advantage. Findlay added their final run in the sixth inning for the six-run advantage.
Camden Vinup led Post 129 at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk. Gaining one hit each were Walker, Tyler Griego, Halley, Tyler Williams and Derek Peters.
As a team, Hillsboro was 7-for-27 with one walk.
The loss was charged to Austin Merkle, who pitched 4.2 innings, followed by Zach Docter pitching 2.1 innings of relief. Merkle allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits and five walks. Merkle struck out two.
"Merkle didn't pitch bad," Morgan said. "Zach came in and got us out of some situations. He's been consistent and did well."
Docter entered the game in the bottom of the fifth with two outs as Findlay had runners on first and second base.
The sixth run that scored came on a passed ball to set up the scenario for Docter's entrance into the game.
Docter allowed one earned run on two hits. He struck out one.
Again, leaving runners stranded was a problem for Post 129 as they left five stranded in the loss.
Leading Findlay at the plate were Jordan Harpst, the leadoff hitter, and Tyler Harris, both going 2-for-3 with a walk each.
Findlay left 11 runners stranded, including the bases loaded in the third inning.