Indians' hitting not timely, shut out by Panthers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
EBER — Hillsboro couldn't find a hit when they needed it the most on Monday at Miami Trace. HHS not only couldn't bring runners home, stranding 12, but the Panthers did some little things right, leading to their 2-0 win over the Indians.
The South Central Ohio League loss by the Indians gives them three losses in league play this season, as they stand at 10-8 overall, 7-3 in the league. The loss keeps HHS in second place in the league, but they are two games behind the London Red Raiders (16-2 overall) in the standings as LHS defeated McClain, 4-0, moving LHS to 9-1 in the SCOL.
HHS will play again on Wednesday as they host the first-place Red Raiders at Shaffer Park, in a must-win game if HHS wants any shot at the league title. If LHS wins, they clinch the league title.
As for the Indians, they not only left 12 runners on the bases, but left them loaded in the top of the fourth, filling three bases with two outs, as they game was scoreless up to that point.
"We stranded too many runners, and we just didn't have timely hitting (Monday)," Hillsboro head coach Tim Hunt said. "We didn't do some of the small things right, and we gave Miami Trace too many extra bases."
The first run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth with the Panthers scoring on a hit-and-run as G.W. Wallace scored on a base hit by Ryan Thompson (3-for-3 on the day) with two outs. The hit-and-run was made possible as Wallace reached the base on a two-out single. Wallace stole second and scored on the aforementioned base hit that flew to centerfield.
MT cushioned their lead in the sixth inning with Brady Ward leading off the inning with a double to centerfield. Ward moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an squeeze bunt by Griff Ward, which turned into an error by the HHS infield, scoring Brady Ward with one out.
[[In-content Ad]]The Indians finished with five hits by Kyler White, Brandon Wilson, Corey Walker, Ty Crum and Brandon Carter, with White and Crum hitting doubles. HHS also forced four walks as Paul Snyder drew two walks, including an intentional walk in the fifth inning; along with walks by Walker and Tyler Griego. Trey Moberly was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning.
However, the game came back to timely hitting, and in the final two innings, the Indians managed just one hit in the sixth by Carter and a walk in the seventh by Walker, which were the two innings HHS played with MT leading.
Wilson, who finished with 94 pitches, was charged with the loss on the mound. Wilson pitched six innings for the Indians, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks. Wilson struck out the side in the first inning, and his defense converted two double plays, with a 1-6-3 in the second and 1-3 in the fourth, both off pop-up bunts.
For the game, HHS committed three errors, one coming in the fourth and two in the sixth inning.
The win went to Brady Ward. Ward pitched all seven innings, allowing no runs on five hits, four walks and one hit batter, as he collected six strikeouts.
"Both pitchers pitched great," Hunt said. "Again, we just stranded too many runners."
BOX SCORE
HHS 000 000 0 — 0 5 3
MT 000 011 x — 2 6 1
The South Central Ohio League loss by the Indians gives them three losses in league play this season, as they stand at 10-8 overall, 7-3 in the league. The loss keeps HHS in second place in the league, but they are two games behind the London Red Raiders (16-2 overall) in the standings as LHS defeated McClain, 4-0, moving LHS to 9-1 in the SCOL.
HHS will play again on Wednesday as they host the first-place Red Raiders at Shaffer Park, in a must-win game if HHS wants any shot at the league title. If LHS wins, they clinch the league title.
As for the Indians, they not only left 12 runners on the bases, but left them loaded in the top of the fourth, filling three bases with two outs, as they game was scoreless up to that point.
"We stranded too many runners, and we just didn't have timely hitting (Monday)," Hillsboro head coach Tim Hunt said. "We didn't do some of the small things right, and we gave Miami Trace too many extra bases."
The first run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth with the Panthers scoring on a hit-and-run as G.W. Wallace scored on a base hit by Ryan Thompson (3-for-3 on the day) with two outs. The hit-and-run was made possible as Wallace reached the base on a two-out single. Wallace stole second and scored on the aforementioned base hit that flew to centerfield.
MT cushioned their lead in the sixth inning with Brady Ward leading off the inning with a double to centerfield. Ward moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an squeeze bunt by Griff Ward, which turned into an error by the HHS infield, scoring Brady Ward with one out.
[[In-content Ad]]The Indians finished with five hits by Kyler White, Brandon Wilson, Corey Walker, Ty Crum and Brandon Carter, with White and Crum hitting doubles. HHS also forced four walks as Paul Snyder drew two walks, including an intentional walk in the fifth inning; along with walks by Walker and Tyler Griego. Trey Moberly was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning.
However, the game came back to timely hitting, and in the final two innings, the Indians managed just one hit in the sixth by Carter and a walk in the seventh by Walker, which were the two innings HHS played with MT leading.
Wilson, who finished with 94 pitches, was charged with the loss on the mound. Wilson pitched six innings for the Indians, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks. Wilson struck out the side in the first inning, and his defense converted two double plays, with a 1-6-3 in the second and 1-3 in the fourth, both off pop-up bunts.
For the game, HHS committed three errors, one coming in the fourth and two in the sixth inning.
The win went to Brady Ward. Ward pitched all seven innings, allowing no runs on five hits, four walks and one hit batter, as he collected six strikeouts.
"Both pitchers pitched great," Hunt said. "Again, we just stranded too many runners."
BOX SCORE
HHS 000 000 0 — 0 5 3
MT 000 011 x — 2 6 1