Lions' season swept up by Tornadoes

CHILLICOTHE — Two runs early weren't enough to overcome what turned into five errors on a soggy day of baseball as the Fairfield Lions had their season ended in the Division IV SE District semifinals, 6-2 to the state-ranked Racine Southern Tornadoes, Sunday at VA Memorial Stadium.

The Lions (12-15) scored their two runs in the first two innings, as they led 2-0 following the top of the second inning. The undefeated Tornadoes responded with a two-run bottom of the second, followed by one run in the fifth and three in the sixth for their six-run totals.

All six runs by the Tornadoes were unearned.

FHS finished with five errors, as Southern was held to just three hits on the day, but it was the Lions who had just one hit in seven innings, which came in the second inning.

Fairfield scored their first run in the top of the first inning with Blake Hildebrant getting things started with a one-out walk. Hildebrant stole second and scored on a throwing error by the Tornadoes. Hildebrant finishes the season with a .390 batting average in 26 games played. Hildebrant also had the lone FHS walk of the game.

They added to their lead in the top of the second with Gage Montgomery reaching first on a lead-off base hit. Montgomery moved to second on a Ryan Bates sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out to second by Nathan Crabtree for a two-run lead.

Fairfield's two-run lead disappeared once the bottom of the second was complete with Southern tying the score on two runs and one hit, along with two errors committed by the Lions. Both runs were unearned errors as FHS committed two infield errors against the first two batters of the inning. Both runners scored on a double off the left field wall by Southern's Dustin Carter. Scoring the runs were Danny Ramthun and Adam Pape.

The Tornadoes added one run in the fifth with one run on no hits and one error with Pape scoring on a infield throwing error for the 3-2 lead.

In the sixth, the Southern lead went to four runs as they scored those three runs on one hit and two errors. The fourth run by the Tornadoes was costly for the Lions with Andrew Roseberry sliding into home for the fourth Southern run, and while sliding, he collided with FHS catcher Kyle Carson, who left the game with an injury.

Southern's Ethan Martin scored on a infield throwing error by the Lions, and Pape scored when Marcus Hill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The game was the final game for seniors Kyle Carson, Chase Fulkerson and Nathan Crabtree.

The loss went to Joey Wilson, who pitched four innings for the Lions. He allowed three runs (none earned) on two hits and seven walks, while striking out two on 80 pitches.

Zach Cox pitched two innings of relief, allowing three runs (none earned) on one hits and three walks on 42 pitches.

Ryan Taylor was the winning pitcher for Southern. He pitched all seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk. He struck out three on 85 pitches.

The Lions end the year with a third-place finish in the Southern Hills League (Division II) with a league mark of 6-7, along with an overall record of 12-15 and a sectional championship with a 19-0 win over Sciotoville (East).

BOX SCORE
FHS 110 000 0 — 2 1 5
SHS 020 130 x — 6 3 3