Indians 'Chase' away Blue Lions for sectional championship
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — The Hillsboro Indians accomplished a feat that hadn't been accomplished by a Indian baseball team since 2008 … winning a sectional title. HHS used a five-run third inning sparked by senior Chase Gilliland to rally past the Washington Blue Lions, 6-2 Thursday at Shaffer Park.
This is the second sectional title for the Indians since the '03 season as they used a great pitching performance from senior Tyler Griego to their advantage, improving to 14-8 overall this season, with three of the wins coming against the Blue Lions by two previous scores of 5-2 and 6-3 during the regular season.
"The big thing was our guys stayed disciplined at the plate," Hillsboro head coach Tim Hunt said. "They worked the count well, and we've been preaching that all season long.
"This was one of our best days of hitting the ball all season. Again, it came back to the focus, and we just hit the ball well."
[[In-content Ad]]As for Griego, the senior was on point for a majority of the game, allowing a total of two runs (both unearned) on five hits and no walks in the complete seven innings on the mound. Through six innings, Griego held Washington to just two hits, as they had three in the seventh. He had three balls in a count on just five occasions as he faced a total of 28 batters.
"Tyler pitched a great game for us," Hunt said. "He came out and stayed focused, and he worked his command with his pitches. He didn't look ahead and focused on each pitch."
The difference of the game was the aforementioned third inning where the Tribe posted not only the five runs, but did it on five hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly, as all the runs rounded the bases with less than two outs on the scoreboard.
Gilliland led off the inning with a double on a 3-2 count to the left field fence. That was followed by a seven-pitch walk by Kyler White. Both runners scored on a double by Brandon Wilson, who sent the ball to the outfield on a 1-2 count.
Corey Walker followed with a walk and Paul Snyder, on a 0-1 count, sent the ball to deep centerfield, scoring Wilson on the sacrifice fly. Griego singled to centerfield and Ty Crum hit a line drive to centerfield to bring home Walker.
Still with just one out, Brandon Carter singled to short centerfield, scoring Griego for the 5-1 lead.
The loss went to Tyler Spears of Washington, as he pitched 3 1-3 innings, allowing five runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks. He struck out two.
After the Blue Lions (14-11) scored their second run (their two runs, both unearned, were scored by Derek Shaw and David Harvey as each runner took the bases on an error) the Indians added one last run in the bottom of the sixth. Carter reached first on an infield error and eventually scored on a fielder's choice as the infielder of the Blue Lions threw home, but the ball went past the catcher, allowing Carter to score.
The Indians totaled seven hits for the game, forcing four walks combined off three pitchers for the Blue Lions. HHS had six players go 1-for-3 on the day. Leading HHS in the RBI category was Wilson with two, while teammates Snyder, Crum and Carter each had one. Earning the walks were White, Walker, Snyder and Trey Moberly.
Washington threatened in the top of the seventh with three batters hitting singles with one out to load the bases. The Blue Lions brought the game-tying run to the plate on two occasions, but a called third strike thrown by Griego, and a pop up to Wilson behind the plate ended the season on the Blue Lions as Washington entered the game-winning nine of their last 11 games.
The Indians will continue to the Division II SE District tournament as they will face the winner of Division II No. 7 state-ranked Gallia Academy and Chillicothe on Tuesday, May 15 at 5 p.m. in Chillicothe at VA Memorial Stadium.
BOX SCORE
WCH 001 100 0 — 2 5 1
HHS 005 001 x — 6 8 2
This is the second sectional title for the Indians since the '03 season as they used a great pitching performance from senior Tyler Griego to their advantage, improving to 14-8 overall this season, with three of the wins coming against the Blue Lions by two previous scores of 5-2 and 6-3 during the regular season.
"The big thing was our guys stayed disciplined at the plate," Hillsboro head coach Tim Hunt said. "They worked the count well, and we've been preaching that all season long.
"This was one of our best days of hitting the ball all season. Again, it came back to the focus, and we just hit the ball well."
[[In-content Ad]]As for Griego, the senior was on point for a majority of the game, allowing a total of two runs (both unearned) on five hits and no walks in the complete seven innings on the mound. Through six innings, Griego held Washington to just two hits, as they had three in the seventh. He had three balls in a count on just five occasions as he faced a total of 28 batters.
"Tyler pitched a great game for us," Hunt said. "He came out and stayed focused, and he worked his command with his pitches. He didn't look ahead and focused on each pitch."
The difference of the game was the aforementioned third inning where the Tribe posted not only the five runs, but did it on five hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly, as all the runs rounded the bases with less than two outs on the scoreboard.
Gilliland led off the inning with a double on a 3-2 count to the left field fence. That was followed by a seven-pitch walk by Kyler White. Both runners scored on a double by Brandon Wilson, who sent the ball to the outfield on a 1-2 count.
Corey Walker followed with a walk and Paul Snyder, on a 0-1 count, sent the ball to deep centerfield, scoring Wilson on the sacrifice fly. Griego singled to centerfield and Ty Crum hit a line drive to centerfield to bring home Walker.
Still with just one out, Brandon Carter singled to short centerfield, scoring Griego for the 5-1 lead.
The loss went to Tyler Spears of Washington, as he pitched 3 1-3 innings, allowing five runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks. He struck out two.
After the Blue Lions (14-11) scored their second run (their two runs, both unearned, were scored by Derek Shaw and David Harvey as each runner took the bases on an error) the Indians added one last run in the bottom of the sixth. Carter reached first on an infield error and eventually scored on a fielder's choice as the infielder of the Blue Lions threw home, but the ball went past the catcher, allowing Carter to score.
The Indians totaled seven hits for the game, forcing four walks combined off three pitchers for the Blue Lions. HHS had six players go 1-for-3 on the day. Leading HHS in the RBI category was Wilson with two, while teammates Snyder, Crum and Carter each had one. Earning the walks were White, Walker, Snyder and Trey Moberly.
Washington threatened in the top of the seventh with three batters hitting singles with one out to load the bases. The Blue Lions brought the game-tying run to the plate on two occasions, but a called third strike thrown by Griego, and a pop up to Wilson behind the plate ended the season on the Blue Lions as Washington entered the game-winning nine of their last 11 games.
The Indians will continue to the Division II SE District tournament as they will face the winner of Division II No. 7 state-ranked Gallia Academy and Chillicothe on Tuesday, May 15 at 5 p.m. in Chillicothe at VA Memorial Stadium.
BOX SCORE
WCH 001 100 0 — 2 5 1
HHS 005 001 x — 6 8 2