Indians defeat Lions in extra innings
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — The Hillsboro Indians scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth and used pitching and defense in the bottom half of the inning to gain a non-league win Thursday, defeating host Fairfield 3-2 in eight innings.
Hillsboro broke the 2-2 tie in the eighth starting with Tyler Griego (2-for-3) gaining a base hit to start the top of the inning. Chase Gilliland sacrificed Griego over to second and scored on a base hit by Dave Williams to take the one-run lead. Williams finished 2-for-4.
Fairfield had an opportunity to tie the score, but after a lead-off hit by Quintin Schaffer, the Lions were unable to capitalize as the host team scored no runs with HHS gaining the win.
"This was a good game to play before the tournament," Hillsboro head coach Tim Hunt said. "Playing (Thursday) helps keep the kids sharp, and it was a good night to play all of our seniors. All of them that were able to play started, and it gives them good game experience.
"Dave (Williams) really stepped up with his hit in the eighth. He did well for not playing much this year, but he did the most with this opportunity and got the hit and RBI when it counted."
HHS (13-8) was first to score in the top of the first inning with Brandon Wilson (2-for-4), who singled, scoring on a triple by Griego with two outs.
The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the second when Joey Wilson reached on a infield error and scored on a sacrifice by Chase Fulkerson.
Fairfield (11-12) took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with Joey Wilson doubling and scoring the run on a fly ball to left field by Fulkerson for the 2-1 lead.
"Hillsboro is a quality Division II team, so this was really good for us to get this game in," FHS head coach Ritchie Butler said. "Don't get me wrong, I don't like to lose, but now we know we are capable of playing good teams.
"They threw three good pitchers at us, and we cut down on our mistakes, but we still made one too many."
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The Indians tied the score in the top of the fifth with Corey Walker (1-for-3) scoring on a double by Paul Snyder.
Also gaining hits for the Indians were Paul Snyder, Jonathan Jacky and Treyton Willis (1-for-2, one walk).
For the Lions, they were led at the plate by Zach Cox, Joey Wilson, Gage Montgomery with one hit each (two RBIs), while Nathan Crabtree walked three times. Fulkerson had two sacrifice flies. Kyle Carson walked once, and Hildebrant had a sacrifice bunt, as did Montgomery.
Earning the pitching win was Walker, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings in relief. Walker allowed one hit and struck out two.
Griego pitched the fifth and sixth innings for HHS in relief, allowing no runs on one hit and five strikeouts. Levi Fleming started the game for the Tribe, pitching four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) in one hits and three walks.
The loss went to Joey Wilson as he pitched 7 1-3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and four walks. He struck out four. Wyatt Crothers pitched 2-3 of an inning in the eighth, allowing no hits, walks or runs.
Now the Indians wait for the sectional tournament game on Thursday, May 10 when they host South Central Ohio League counterpart at Shaffer Park at 5 p.m. The Indians swept the regular season against Washington.
"The biggest thing for us is keeping our focus, discipline and composure," Hunt said. "We just need to take each game one inning at a time."
Fairfield is scheduled to travel to Georgetown on Friday in a non-league regular-season game at 5 p.m. on Friday.
BOX SCORE
HHS 100 010 01 — 3 10 3
FHS 010 200 00 — 2 3 2
Hillsboro broke the 2-2 tie in the eighth starting with Tyler Griego (2-for-3) gaining a base hit to start the top of the inning. Chase Gilliland sacrificed Griego over to second and scored on a base hit by Dave Williams to take the one-run lead. Williams finished 2-for-4.
Fairfield had an opportunity to tie the score, but after a lead-off hit by Quintin Schaffer, the Lions were unable to capitalize as the host team scored no runs with HHS gaining the win.
"This was a good game to play before the tournament," Hillsboro head coach Tim Hunt said. "Playing (Thursday) helps keep the kids sharp, and it was a good night to play all of our seniors. All of them that were able to play started, and it gives them good game experience.
"Dave (Williams) really stepped up with his hit in the eighth. He did well for not playing much this year, but he did the most with this opportunity and got the hit and RBI when it counted."
HHS (13-8) was first to score in the top of the first inning with Brandon Wilson (2-for-4), who singled, scoring on a triple by Griego with two outs.
The Lions tied the game in the bottom of the second when Joey Wilson reached on a infield error and scored on a sacrifice by Chase Fulkerson.
Fairfield (11-12) took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with Joey Wilson doubling and scoring the run on a fly ball to left field by Fulkerson for the 2-1 lead.
"Hillsboro is a quality Division II team, so this was really good for us to get this game in," FHS head coach Ritchie Butler said. "Don't get me wrong, I don't like to lose, but now we know we are capable of playing good teams.
"They threw three good pitchers at us, and we cut down on our mistakes, but we still made one too many."
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The Indians tied the score in the top of the fifth with Corey Walker (1-for-3) scoring on a double by Paul Snyder.
Also gaining hits for the Indians were Paul Snyder, Jonathan Jacky and Treyton Willis (1-for-2, one walk).
For the Lions, they were led at the plate by Zach Cox, Joey Wilson, Gage Montgomery with one hit each (two RBIs), while Nathan Crabtree walked three times. Fulkerson had two sacrifice flies. Kyle Carson walked once, and Hildebrant had a sacrifice bunt, as did Montgomery.
Earning the pitching win was Walker, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings in relief. Walker allowed one hit and struck out two.
Griego pitched the fifth and sixth innings for HHS in relief, allowing no runs on one hit and five strikeouts. Levi Fleming started the game for the Tribe, pitching four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) in one hits and three walks.
The loss went to Joey Wilson as he pitched 7 1-3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and four walks. He struck out four. Wyatt Crothers pitched 2-3 of an inning in the eighth, allowing no hits, walks or runs.
Now the Indians wait for the sectional tournament game on Thursday, May 10 when they host South Central Ohio League counterpart at Shaffer Park at 5 p.m. The Indians swept the regular season against Washington.
"The biggest thing for us is keeping our focus, discipline and composure," Hunt said. "We just need to take each game one inning at a time."
Fairfield is scheduled to travel to Georgetown on Friday in a non-league regular-season game at 5 p.m. on Friday.
BOX SCORE
HHS 100 010 01 — 3 10 3
FHS 010 200 00 — 2 3 2