Post 129 gains walk-off win over Circleville
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — Though it was a rocky ride, Hillsboro Post 129 played well enough when it mattered most to gain their 16th win of the season Wednesday night, as they split a doubleheader with Circleville Post 134 by winning game two, 6-5 and losing game one, 5-2.
Game two was the game Hillsboro has been looking for lately as Joey Wilson bunted in Luke Taggert on a squeeze play to break the 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning for the win.
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"Joey had a 2-0 count, and we knew he was going to get a fastball down the pipe," Post 129 head coach Ritchie Butler said. "When Circleville had their mound meeting I asked Joe could he lay down a bunt, and Luke said he could score … Joe did a nice job with the bunt."
The win and loss now puts Hillsboro at 16-24 overall with a league record of 9-6 as they lost a game to Circleville on Tuesday at Teays Valley High School, 11-1 in six innings.
"(Wednesday) we played well enough to win the second game," Butler said. "We had some mishaps in the field, which allowed Circleville to stay in the game. The first game we gave away runs, and we could string enough hits together to come back in that one."
In game two, Hillsboro scored one run in the bottom of the second for a 1-0 lead when Kyle Carson (who singled) scored on an sacrifice bunt by Corey Walker.
After Post 134 scored and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, Hillsboro scored four runs in their half of the fourth for a three-run lead. Luke Taggert (2-for-4) opened the inning by taking first on an error, and Stephen Pappas (2-for-3, sacrifice) followed with a base hit to right field. After two outs were on the scoreboard, Austin Merkle (2-for-3) walked, followed by a walk by Walker (two sacrifice bunts, one walk) to load the bases.
Tyler Griego (3-for-4) batted in two runs with a double, and Paul Snyder followed with a double down the first base line for two more RBIs, with Hillsboro gaining a 5-2 lead.
Post 134 tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth following Hillsboro fielding miscues.
Both teams left the bases loaded with no outs. Hillsboro left the bases loaded in the first inning and Circleville left them loaded in the fifth, as Merkle made a running catch that saved three runs.
The winning pitcher for game two was Brandon Wilson, who pitched all seven innings for Post 129. Wilson allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters.
For the game, Hillsboro totaled 12 hits.
In the first game of the twin bill, Hillsboro lost 5-2 with their runs scored in the fourth inning.
In game one, scoring for Hillsboro were Joey Wilson and Matt Carey with Wilson reaching the bases on a single and Carey drawing a walk. Post 134 scored four runs in the top of the third and one in the sixth for the five runs.
Hillsboro totaled five hits in game one with Nick Bush going 2-for-3, followed with hits by Carey, Joey Wilson and Griego. The pitching loss was charged to Derek Peters, who pitched six innings. Taggert pitched the seventh inning.
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In their game Tuesday at Circleville, Post 129 lost 11-1 in six innings. Post 129 scored their lone run in the top of the first with Brandon Wilson rounding the bases.
Hillsboro totaled five hits with Brandon Wilson finishing 2-for-3, Walker at 1-for-3 and Taggert and Merkle at 1-for-2.
Game two was the game Hillsboro has been looking for lately as Joey Wilson bunted in Luke Taggert on a squeeze play to break the 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning for the win.
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"Joey had a 2-0 count, and we knew he was going to get a fastball down the pipe," Post 129 head coach Ritchie Butler said. "When Circleville had their mound meeting I asked Joe could he lay down a bunt, and Luke said he could score … Joe did a nice job with the bunt."
The win and loss now puts Hillsboro at 16-24 overall with a league record of 9-6 as they lost a game to Circleville on Tuesday at Teays Valley High School, 11-1 in six innings.
"(Wednesday) we played well enough to win the second game," Butler said. "We had some mishaps in the field, which allowed Circleville to stay in the game. The first game we gave away runs, and we could string enough hits together to come back in that one."
In game two, Hillsboro scored one run in the bottom of the second for a 1-0 lead when Kyle Carson (who singled) scored on an sacrifice bunt by Corey Walker.
After Post 134 scored and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, Hillsboro scored four runs in their half of the fourth for a three-run lead. Luke Taggert (2-for-4) opened the inning by taking first on an error, and Stephen Pappas (2-for-3, sacrifice) followed with a base hit to right field. After two outs were on the scoreboard, Austin Merkle (2-for-3) walked, followed by a walk by Walker (two sacrifice bunts, one walk) to load the bases.
Tyler Griego (3-for-4) batted in two runs with a double, and Paul Snyder followed with a double down the first base line for two more RBIs, with Hillsboro gaining a 5-2 lead.
Post 134 tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth following Hillsboro fielding miscues.
Both teams left the bases loaded with no outs. Hillsboro left the bases loaded in the first inning and Circleville left them loaded in the fifth, as Merkle made a running catch that saved three runs.
The winning pitcher for game two was Brandon Wilson, who pitched all seven innings for Post 129. Wilson allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters.
For the game, Hillsboro totaled 12 hits.
In the first game of the twin bill, Hillsboro lost 5-2 with their runs scored in the fourth inning.
In game one, scoring for Hillsboro were Joey Wilson and Matt Carey with Wilson reaching the bases on a single and Carey drawing a walk. Post 134 scored four runs in the top of the third and one in the sixth for the five runs.
Hillsboro totaled five hits in game one with Nick Bush going 2-for-3, followed with hits by Carey, Joey Wilson and Griego. The pitching loss was charged to Derek Peters, who pitched six innings. Taggert pitched the seventh inning.
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In their game Tuesday at Circleville, Post 129 lost 11-1 in six innings. Post 129 scored their lone run in the top of the first with Brandon Wilson rounding the bases.
Hillsboro totaled five hits with Brandon Wilson finishing 2-for-3, Walker at 1-for-3 and Taggert and Merkle at 1-for-2.