Piqua provides fireworks as Post 129 falls in championship game on Independence Day

      WASHINGTON C.H. - On Independence Day, the wooden bats of Hillsboro Post 129 were unable to provide any fireworks in the championship game of the Southwest Wooden Bat Classic in Washington C.H.

      Post 129 was held to just two hits and a total of five base runners against Piqua Post 184 in a 10-0, six inning run-rule loss in the final game of the wooden bat tourney Sunday.

      "Piqua hit the ball and we didn't," Hillsboro head coach Ritchie Butler said. "We didn't play that poorly defensively, but Piqua kept the pressure on us each inning. We didn't do anything to stop them."

      Overall, Hillsboro now stands at 13-10.

      Both hits for Hillsboro came in the first two innings with Brandon Arehart hitting a one-out single to right field in the first inning and Zach Uhl knocking a base hit to shallow left field in the first at-bat of the second inning.

      In the same second inning, Tucker Hughes drew a base on balls, but Hillsboro left both runners stranded on the bases. Uhl reached second in the inning on a sacrifice bunt by Cody Shaver.

      After stranding two runners in the second, Hillsboro didn't get another runner on the bases until the top of the fourth when Airic Steagall forced a lead-off walk. The walk went wasted as he was left on the bases after Post 129 struck out back-to-back times and finished the inning with a ground out.

      Steagall reached the bases again in the sixth when the outfield of Post 184 committed a fielding error.

      For the tournament, Hillsboro finished 4-1 with wins against Portsmouth Post 23, Findlay Post 3, Waverly Post 142 and Chillicothe Post 62.

      "We caught them (Piqua) off the bases, but they caught us napping as well. The main difference was the hitting," Butler said.

      Piqua out-hit Post 129, 10-2.

      Piqua's plate performances were opposite of Hillsboro as they pounded out 11 hits and 10 runs in just six innings for the championship of the SW Wooden Bat Classic. Last season, Piqua lost the championship game.

      Post 184 began with a big hit in their first at-bat of the game when Eric Terwilliger tripled to right field, sliding head first to third base, beating out the throw. Piqua teammate David Moore followed by being hit by a pitch and the game's first run came off a 4-3 groundout play by Ben Smith to plate Terwilliger.

      The second inning was the first big haymaker thrown by Piqua when they scored three more times to take a four-run lead. In the inning, they totaled two hits, three runs, and two walks. Scoring runs were Taylor Huebner, Justin Jennings and Tyler Davis. For the second straight day, Piqua stole home with Jennings sprinting from third for the run. In the second inning, Post 129 began by getting the first two batters out on a rundown play between first and second bases and a looking strikeout.

      The Post 184 lead jumped to five runs when Smith scored his second run of the championship final after hitting a first-pitch single to right field to take the bases. He scored on a single from Jordan Stum that was almost caught in the outfield on a diving attempt.

      Scoring the final five runs for Post 184 in the last three innings were Huebner, Stum, Kenny Raymond and Aaron Christy.

      The win was credited to Matt Orth. Orth pitched all six innings allowing no runs on two hits and two walks. He finished with seven strikeouts.

      The loss was charged to Brett Carrington. Carrington went three full innings and two batters into the fourth, allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits, two walks and one hit batter. He also had one strikeout, coming in the second inning.

      Daniel Kruger pitched the final three innings for Hillsboro. He allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits, one walk and one hit batters. Kruger had one strikeout.

      In wooden bat tournaments this season, Hillsboro now stands at 7-7 overall. In the first two tournaments this season, Post 129 went 2-3 and 1-3.

      "Overall, we had a very excellent tournament," Butler said. All of our games were close, except for this one. We had two shootout wins and we beat a good Findlay team on Friday. We just didn't have it (Sunday)."

      Hillsboro will step between the line again on Tuesday when they travel to face Gallipolis in an nine-inning game at 6 p.m. The next day on Wednesday, July 7, Post 129 will travel back to Washington C.H. to face the Post 25 Aces at 6 p.m. On Thursday, July 8, Hillsboro will take on Post 11 in Lancaster for a doubleheader on Thursday, July 8 at 5:30 p.m.

      NOTES: Hillsboro went three and out on three separate occasions at the plate Sunday … The 5-9 spots in the batting order went a combined 0-for-8 with a sacrifice and walk … On two occasions, the lead off hitter for the inning reached the bases for Post 129 … For the five-game weekend (one forfeit) Hillsboro went 4-1, gaining four wins at Ross County Park in Chillicothe … Piqua won the tournament with wins against Fairborn Post 526 (1-0), WCH Post 25 (6-5), Ottawa Post 63 (5-3) and Sandusky Post 83 (4-2) … In games played for the tournament, Post 129 scored 18 runs … Post 129 caught Piqua in two separate run downs in the base paths between first and second and second and third … Hillsboro received a second place trophy. 

H   000 000 x — 0 2 2

P   131 131 x — 10 10 2