Hillsboro Post 129 gains 5th straight win
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — What started with a rocky first three innings for both Hillsboro Post 129 and Gallipolis Post 27 turned out to be just smooth enough for the Hillsboro club.
Hillsboro and Gallipolis were tied 8-8 through the first three innings but then Post 129 outscored their opponent 4-0 for the remaining six innings to gain a scheduled nine-inning, 12-8 win Wednesday at Shaffer Park.
With 16 runs split evenly between both teams through three innings, each team went about gaining their runs in a different fashion with Gallipolis scoring one run in the first, three in the second and four in the third, while Hillsboro scored two runs in the first and six in the third for their eight runs.
The difference, though, for Hillsboro was they continued to score runs in the fourth, adding four more to their total, enough to seal the victory – their fifth win in a row – as they now stand at 10-12 overall after starting the season 0-4 and then holding a record of 1-8 earlier this summer.
"We start out rough because Gallipolis was swinging the bat well," Post 129 head coach Ritchie Butler said. "Our bats came alive this game, and we hit the ball really well.
"We spotted them a few runs, but we held them scoreless after the third inning."
With all the runs scored, it was Bryce Bean who kept Post 27 at bay from the fourth inning on as he pitched the fourth to the end of the game in relief for the win, allowing no runs on the night. Bean allowed just two hits, walked two and totaled three strikeouts. He retired Gallipolis in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and recorded 12 consecutive outs from the second out in the fourth inning to the first out in the eighth inning.
"Bruce was wonderful in relief," Butler said. "Our pitching is still a strength for us."
As for Post 129 at the plate, they broke their 8-8 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with Brandon Wilson scoring on a single from Dustin Taylor, followed by a three-run home run to left field by Luke Taggert putting Post 129 ahead by four runs. Scoring along with Taggert were Tyler Griego and Taylor.
As for the first eight runs by Hillsboro, Bean and Corey scored runs in the first inning, and runs in the third were scored by Walker, Snyder, Nathaniel Miller, Griego, Taylor and Taggert. Gaining RBIs in the third were Miller, Taylor, Taggert, Carson (two) and Walker.
Walker finished the game 3-for-5, while Miller, Griego and Taylor each tallied two hits. Bean, Brandon Wilson, Taggert and Kyle Carson each tallied one hit. Taggert finished the game with four RBIs.
"Our approach at the plate was better," Butler said. "We had more confidence, and we have guys who were struggling early on now hitting the ball.
"This was just a good team win, and they continued to play and think positively after settling down defensively after the third inning. We stayed focused."
Starting the game for Post 129 was Zach Docter, who gained a no decision with three innings pitched.
Hillsboro will play next in the Post 757 Wooden Bat tournament in Chillicothe starting on Thursday. On Thursday, Post 129 plays in two games, starting with a game at VA Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m., followed by a game at 3:30 p.m. at Unioto High School. On Friday, Post 129 will play at Mary Lou Patton Park at 10:30 a.m., and their second game Friday will start at 6 p.m. at UHS.
BOX SCORE
G 134 000 000 — 8
H 206 400 00x — 12[[In-content Ad]]
Hillsboro and Gallipolis were tied 8-8 through the first three innings but then Post 129 outscored their opponent 4-0 for the remaining six innings to gain a scheduled nine-inning, 12-8 win Wednesday at Shaffer Park.
With 16 runs split evenly between both teams through three innings, each team went about gaining their runs in a different fashion with Gallipolis scoring one run in the first, three in the second and four in the third, while Hillsboro scored two runs in the first and six in the third for their eight runs.
The difference, though, for Hillsboro was they continued to score runs in the fourth, adding four more to their total, enough to seal the victory – their fifth win in a row – as they now stand at 10-12 overall after starting the season 0-4 and then holding a record of 1-8 earlier this summer.
"We start out rough because Gallipolis was swinging the bat well," Post 129 head coach Ritchie Butler said. "Our bats came alive this game, and we hit the ball really well.
"We spotted them a few runs, but we held them scoreless after the third inning."
With all the runs scored, it was Bryce Bean who kept Post 27 at bay from the fourth inning on as he pitched the fourth to the end of the game in relief for the win, allowing no runs on the night. Bean allowed just two hits, walked two and totaled three strikeouts. He retired Gallipolis in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and recorded 12 consecutive outs from the second out in the fourth inning to the first out in the eighth inning.
"Bruce was wonderful in relief," Butler said. "Our pitching is still a strength for us."
As for Post 129 at the plate, they broke their 8-8 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with Brandon Wilson scoring on a single from Dustin Taylor, followed by a three-run home run to left field by Luke Taggert putting Post 129 ahead by four runs. Scoring along with Taggert were Tyler Griego and Taylor.
As for the first eight runs by Hillsboro, Bean and Corey scored runs in the first inning, and runs in the third were scored by Walker, Snyder, Nathaniel Miller, Griego, Taylor and Taggert. Gaining RBIs in the third were Miller, Taylor, Taggert, Carson (two) and Walker.
Walker finished the game 3-for-5, while Miller, Griego and Taylor each tallied two hits. Bean, Brandon Wilson, Taggert and Kyle Carson each tallied one hit. Taggert finished the game with four RBIs.
"Our approach at the plate was better," Butler said. "We had more confidence, and we have guys who were struggling early on now hitting the ball.
"This was just a good team win, and they continued to play and think positively after settling down defensively after the third inning. We stayed focused."
Starting the game for Post 129 was Zach Docter, who gained a no decision with three innings pitched.
Hillsboro will play next in the Post 757 Wooden Bat tournament in Chillicothe starting on Thursday. On Thursday, Post 129 plays in two games, starting with a game at VA Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m., followed by a game at 3:30 p.m. at Unioto High School. On Friday, Post 129 will play at Mary Lou Patton Park at 10:30 a.m., and their second game Friday will start at 6 p.m. at UHS.
BOX SCORE
G 134 000 000 — 8
H 206 400 00x — 12[[In-content Ad]]