Mustangs drop late-inning lead, finish district runner-up
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — For six innings, the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs were on the verge of upsetting the Division III No. 7 state-ranked Wheelersburg Pirates, but in the final two innings, it was the Pirates who made the Mustangs walk the plank.
The Pirates (25-2) scored two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to defeat the Mustangs 6-5 in extra innings at VA Memorial Stadium Sunday in the Division III SE District final, as LC finishes the year as district runner-up.
LC (16-12) scored five runs in the first three innings, gaining runs all ways imaginable, but the Pirates chipped away at the Mustangs slowly with two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the seventh and walked off with one run in the eighth.
[[In-content Ad]]"We weren't going to fool Wheelersburg, they knew who we were and what we wanted to do," LC head coach Garyn Waits said. "Even though we had some errors, our defense was unbelievable. To come out of the gates with five runs … they (WHS) weren't ready for that. If they make a run in this tournament, maybe we were their wake-up call."
The runs by WHS, who won 6-0 over Federal Hocking on Saturday with a no-hitter, in the seventh and eighth innings came on a combined three hits, one hit by pitch, one walk and a sacrifice bunt.
WHS tied the score at five with a double to centerfield and a single, followed by an error in the same sequence in the outfield in the seventh. The fourth run came on a double to the centerfield wall on a 2-1 count by Martin.
The game was won with Hood drawing a four-pitch walk, followed with a sacrifice bunt by Boyer and the walk-off single to left field by Hall in the eighth.
The Mustangs scored their first run with senior Tyler Davidson (2-for-4) leading off the first inning by taking first base on an error, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Gage Waits. With two outs, on a 2-1 count, senior Wes Pierson singled to centerfield, scoring Davidson for the 1-0 lead.
LC increased their lead to five runs in the top of the third with Davidson leading off what turned into a four-run inning with a single over the head of the second baseman.
Waits took first on a walk, and Chaz Lanier singled to left field, with the line drive scoring Davidson from second base as Davidson took off on the pitch.
Pierson (2-for-4) continued the inning with a double to left field, scoring Waits, making it a 3-0 score. With Lanier standing at third, he took advantage of a passed ball, sliding at home plate for a four-run lead.
With a new pitcher on the mound two batters were retired, via strikeouts, and on an 0-1 count, Ryan Inman singled up the middle to score Pierson for the aforementioned 5-0 lead.
Then slowly, from the fourth inning until the final run was scored, the Pirates chipped away with small ball as LC made various pitching changes.
Waits was the starting pitcher and was replaced in the bottom of the fourth with no outs by Terry Campbell. Campbell took the mound with LC leading 5-2, as the Pirates had two runners on the base with no outs, after scoring two runs by Hall and Arnold.
Campbell forced the first out of the inning on a fielder's choice and the final two outs at first base to keep the damage to a minimum. Campbell pitched seven innings the previous day in the district semifinal.
WHS scored one run in the fifth as the Pirates cut the LC lead to two runs with Boyer crossing home plate.
Wheelersburg threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases on a single, hit-by-pitch and walk with a fly ball out and strikeout mixed in. With two outs, Campbell stopped the threat with a ground out back near the mound and a toss to first base.
Waits re-entered the game back as pitcher to start the bottom of the seventh and was replaced by Lanier when the game was tied at 5-5 with no outs.
The loss was charged to Lanier, who entered the game with a tied score in the seventh inning, allowing what was the final run in the eighth. The winning pitcher was Martin.
"Our pitchers did a nice job," Waits said. "Gage mixed his change-up and curve ball with his fast ball, the only thing that hurt was a few pitches up high … and Wheelersburg did what they were supposed to do.
"Terry came in and did what he's done all year. He's the most emotional pitcher I've been around in a long time. He leaves it all on the mound. He came in for three innings and was unbelievable. There was a time I wanted to go talk to him, and he waved me off. Chaz didn't lose this game for us. He made some pitches, and he was charged with the loss by default."
As for LC, from the fourth inning until their final at-bat in the eighth, they were held to no runs, two hits and struck out seven times, including three times in the eighth.
In the eighth for LC, they left two runners on the bases, and in the game, they stranded five runners. LC totaled six hits.
This was the final game for seniors Wes Pierson, Terry Campbell, Tyler Davidson and Joey Butler.
"This group gave their all. Wes was getting sick all game … he battled, and he wouldn't quit," Waits said. "Tyler and Joey battled as well. They were invaluable, and Terry was our ace this year … this will be a tough group to replace.
"They weren't an outspoken group, but they played hard and had fun playing baseball."
BOX SCORE
LC 104 000 00 — 5 6 4
WHS 000 210 21 — 6 11 3
The Pirates (25-2) scored two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to defeat the Mustangs 6-5 in extra innings at VA Memorial Stadium Sunday in the Division III SE District final, as LC finishes the year as district runner-up.
LC (16-12) scored five runs in the first three innings, gaining runs all ways imaginable, but the Pirates chipped away at the Mustangs slowly with two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the seventh and walked off with one run in the eighth.
[[In-content Ad]]"We weren't going to fool Wheelersburg, they knew who we were and what we wanted to do," LC head coach Garyn Waits said. "Even though we had some errors, our defense was unbelievable. To come out of the gates with five runs … they (WHS) weren't ready for that. If they make a run in this tournament, maybe we were their wake-up call."
The runs by WHS, who won 6-0 over Federal Hocking on Saturday with a no-hitter, in the seventh and eighth innings came on a combined three hits, one hit by pitch, one walk and a sacrifice bunt.
WHS tied the score at five with a double to centerfield and a single, followed by an error in the same sequence in the outfield in the seventh. The fourth run came on a double to the centerfield wall on a 2-1 count by Martin.
The game was won with Hood drawing a four-pitch walk, followed with a sacrifice bunt by Boyer and the walk-off single to left field by Hall in the eighth.
The Mustangs scored their first run with senior Tyler Davidson (2-for-4) leading off the first inning by taking first base on an error, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Gage Waits. With two outs, on a 2-1 count, senior Wes Pierson singled to centerfield, scoring Davidson for the 1-0 lead.
LC increased their lead to five runs in the top of the third with Davidson leading off what turned into a four-run inning with a single over the head of the second baseman.
Waits took first on a walk, and Chaz Lanier singled to left field, with the line drive scoring Davidson from second base as Davidson took off on the pitch.
Pierson (2-for-4) continued the inning with a double to left field, scoring Waits, making it a 3-0 score. With Lanier standing at third, he took advantage of a passed ball, sliding at home plate for a four-run lead.
With a new pitcher on the mound two batters were retired, via strikeouts, and on an 0-1 count, Ryan Inman singled up the middle to score Pierson for the aforementioned 5-0 lead.
Then slowly, from the fourth inning until the final run was scored, the Pirates chipped away with small ball as LC made various pitching changes.
Waits was the starting pitcher and was replaced in the bottom of the fourth with no outs by Terry Campbell. Campbell took the mound with LC leading 5-2, as the Pirates had two runners on the base with no outs, after scoring two runs by Hall and Arnold.
Campbell forced the first out of the inning on a fielder's choice and the final two outs at first base to keep the damage to a minimum. Campbell pitched seven innings the previous day in the district semifinal.
WHS scored one run in the fifth as the Pirates cut the LC lead to two runs with Boyer crossing home plate.
Wheelersburg threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases on a single, hit-by-pitch and walk with a fly ball out and strikeout mixed in. With two outs, Campbell stopped the threat with a ground out back near the mound and a toss to first base.
Waits re-entered the game back as pitcher to start the bottom of the seventh and was replaced by Lanier when the game was tied at 5-5 with no outs.
The loss was charged to Lanier, who entered the game with a tied score in the seventh inning, allowing what was the final run in the eighth. The winning pitcher was Martin.
"Our pitchers did a nice job," Waits said. "Gage mixed his change-up and curve ball with his fast ball, the only thing that hurt was a few pitches up high … and Wheelersburg did what they were supposed to do.
"Terry came in and did what he's done all year. He's the most emotional pitcher I've been around in a long time. He leaves it all on the mound. He came in for three innings and was unbelievable. There was a time I wanted to go talk to him, and he waved me off. Chaz didn't lose this game for us. He made some pitches, and he was charged with the loss by default."
As for LC, from the fourth inning until their final at-bat in the eighth, they were held to no runs, two hits and struck out seven times, including three times in the eighth.
In the eighth for LC, they left two runners on the bases, and in the game, they stranded five runners. LC totaled six hits.
This was the final game for seniors Wes Pierson, Terry Campbell, Tyler Davidson and Joey Butler.
"This group gave their all. Wes was getting sick all game … he battled, and he wouldn't quit," Waits said. "Tyler and Joey battled as well. They were invaluable, and Terry was our ace this year … this will be a tough group to replace.
"They weren't an outspoken group, but they played hard and had fun playing baseball."
BOX SCORE
LC 104 000 00 — 5 6 4
WHS 000 210 21 — 6 11 3