Lions, walks and errors ... oh my: Fairfield wins sectional title
Lead Summary
By
The Highland County Press-
LEESBURG — The Fairfield Lions opened their postseason with big numbers as they defeated the Sciotoville East Tartans 19-0 Wednesday as the Fairfield pitching duo of Joey Wilson and Zach Cox combined for a five-inning one-hitter at Fairfield High School in a Division IV SE District Sectional final.
The Lions (12-13) scored six runs in the first and from there continued to dominate the Tartans with a three-run second and back-to-back five-run innings in the third and fourth for their 19 total runs.
Sciotoville's lone hit came in top of the third with two outs by Justin Crager.
As for the Lions, their six-run first inning saw them score the runs on three hits, two errors, two hit-by-pitches, two walks and even a dropped third strike. Scoring the runs were Cody Bennett, Blake Hildebrant, Kyle Carson, Cox, Wilson and Gage Montgomery.
From there, it was smooth sailing for the Lions with Wilson, Montgomery and Nathan Crabtree scoring on a combined one hit and two errors in the inning.
Then came the two innings where the Lions added a total of 10 runs, splitting the scoring in half with five runs in the both the third and fourth innings.
[[In-content Ad]]In the third, FHS scored five runs on three hits and two errors with one of the hits being a line drive three-run home run off the scoreboard in left field by Cox, scoring himself, Bennett and Hildebrant. Wilson and Montgomery also scored in the inning with Wilson scoring on a wild pitch and Montgomery scoring on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Chase Fulkerson.
For the fourth inning, the Lions added five runs off two hits and two errors, along with FHS walking the bases loaded to start the inning with Hildebrant, Carson and Cox all drawing walks. With John Crabtree pinch running for Cox, the walks continued as Isaiah Liggins forced the fourth straight walk, scoring Hildebrant. Carson scored on a fielding error, and Dylan Rohde batted in Crabtree and Liggins with a base hit on a 0-1 count.
Bennett singled to score Montgomery for the 19th FHS run of the game.
For the game, the Lions tallied nine hits and walked 10 times, as the Tartans finished with eight errors.
Leading hitters for the Lions included: Bennett, 2-for-4, two runs, one RBI, one walk; Hildebrant, three runs, three walks, one hit-by-pitch; Cox, 1-for-2, three-run home run, two runs, four RBIs, one walk, one hit-by-pitch; Liggins, one run, one RBI, one walk.
More offensive leaders included: Montgomery, 2-for-4, four runs; Rohde, 1-for-1, two RBI; Fulkerson, 1-for-2, two RBIs, one sacrifice fly; Wilson, 2-for-2, two doubles, three runs, two RBIs, one walk; Bates, one RBI; Nathan Crabtree, one run, one RBI, one walk; Carson, two runs, two walks; and John Crabtree, one run.
Not to forget the pitching, the winning pitcher was Wilson with four innings of one-hit baseball. Wilson walked four and struck out nine batters. Cox pitched the final inning, allowing no runs, hits or walks.
The Lions will move to the Division IV SE District tournament as they will face undefeated Racine Southern on Sunday, May 13 at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe in a semifinal game. Southern defeated South Gallia, 20-7, Wednesday.
BOX SCORE
SEHS 000 00 — 0 1 8
FHS 635 5x — 19 9 1
The Lions (12-13) scored six runs in the first and from there continued to dominate the Tartans with a three-run second and back-to-back five-run innings in the third and fourth for their 19 total runs.
Sciotoville's lone hit came in top of the third with two outs by Justin Crager.
As for the Lions, their six-run first inning saw them score the runs on three hits, two errors, two hit-by-pitches, two walks and even a dropped third strike. Scoring the runs were Cody Bennett, Blake Hildebrant, Kyle Carson, Cox, Wilson and Gage Montgomery.
From there, it was smooth sailing for the Lions with Wilson, Montgomery and Nathan Crabtree scoring on a combined one hit and two errors in the inning.
Then came the two innings where the Lions added a total of 10 runs, splitting the scoring in half with five runs in the both the third and fourth innings.
[[In-content Ad]]In the third, FHS scored five runs on three hits and two errors with one of the hits being a line drive three-run home run off the scoreboard in left field by Cox, scoring himself, Bennett and Hildebrant. Wilson and Montgomery also scored in the inning with Wilson scoring on a wild pitch and Montgomery scoring on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Chase Fulkerson.
For the fourth inning, the Lions added five runs off two hits and two errors, along with FHS walking the bases loaded to start the inning with Hildebrant, Carson and Cox all drawing walks. With John Crabtree pinch running for Cox, the walks continued as Isaiah Liggins forced the fourth straight walk, scoring Hildebrant. Carson scored on a fielding error, and Dylan Rohde batted in Crabtree and Liggins with a base hit on a 0-1 count.
Bennett singled to score Montgomery for the 19th FHS run of the game.
For the game, the Lions tallied nine hits and walked 10 times, as the Tartans finished with eight errors.
Leading hitters for the Lions included: Bennett, 2-for-4, two runs, one RBI, one walk; Hildebrant, three runs, three walks, one hit-by-pitch; Cox, 1-for-2, three-run home run, two runs, four RBIs, one walk, one hit-by-pitch; Liggins, one run, one RBI, one walk.
More offensive leaders included: Montgomery, 2-for-4, four runs; Rohde, 1-for-1, two RBI; Fulkerson, 1-for-2, two RBIs, one sacrifice fly; Wilson, 2-for-2, two doubles, three runs, two RBIs, one walk; Bates, one RBI; Nathan Crabtree, one run, one RBI, one walk; Carson, two runs, two walks; and John Crabtree, one run.
Not to forget the pitching, the winning pitcher was Wilson with four innings of one-hit baseball. Wilson walked four and struck out nine batters. Cox pitched the final inning, allowing no runs, hits or walks.
The Lions will move to the Division IV SE District tournament as they will face undefeated Racine Southern on Sunday, May 13 at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe in a semifinal game. Southern defeated South Gallia, 20-7, Wednesday.
BOX SCORE
SEHS 000 00 — 0 1 8
FHS 635 5x — 19 9 1