Postseason moments that stand out
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Overall, the 2012 baseball and softball postseasons were a success, if you look at the big picture. Highland County had three district runners-up in baseball and softball, a few sectional champions, teams that had state-ranked teams on the ropes and performances that will be tough to accomplish in future seasons.
Highland County didn't have a baseball or softball team advance to the regional tournament this season like the Fairfield Lady Lions did one year ago, but still, we had teams finally get over the hump and possibly a couple other teams from the same school show they have a lot to look forward to next season.
As I go further in this column, words from Whiteoak baseball head coach Chris Veidt stand out about the postseason, as he said this about his Wildcats being in the district finals: "My wish for this team is to just enjoy the ride and to appreciate the little things. I want them to enjoy the friendships and camaraderie we have built between us the last three months."
Well, a lot of teams had a great ride this postseason, so let's look back at moments, results and thoughts that stood out (at least to me) this postseason.
• Pitching, pitching and more pitching
If there's one thing nobody can say about Highland County this postseason, it's that there was a lack of pitching. There was the 17-strikeout performance of Whiteoak freshman softball pitcher Kiley Sosby over Portsmouth East for a sectional title and the 14 strikeouts by WHS junior baseball pitcher Gage Carraher for a sectional title win over Manchester.
In the district semifinal against Alexander, LC senior Terry Campbell pitched a fantastic seven-inning game for a 6-0 win on a very hot day in Chillicothe. What stood out for me was before the game, you could see the nerves
of Campbell in the dugout, but when he stepped on that mound, he was the same player who lost just one game this season (he finished the year 6-1). It was one of the better pitching performances I watched this postseason, as the best stat of the performance was he walked zero.
There was also the pitching of Hillsboro senior Tyler Griego against the Washington Blue Lions in the sectional final. In that game, he allowed no earned runs on five hits and no walks. Through six of the innings pitched, he held WCH to just two hits.
I also can't forget the one-hitter by junior Cierra Landrum in the sectional final. I've said it before in my Not off the Press column, but that was the quietest no-hitter through six innings I've ever covered, and that 2-1 win by McClain was the most unique game I've covered, perhaps in the past six years.
There were others, but those stand out the most.
[[In-content Ad]]• More postseason moments
- Best Game: Of all 21 games, the best of the postseason was the 2-1 seventh-inning win by the McClain Lady Tigers over WCH, as the Lady Tigers scored two runs in the same sequence on errant throws. I can't recall a game I covered ever ending like that.
- Best Performance: I've mentioned a lot of performances, but one I can't forget anytime soon was the complete dominance of Gage Carraher against Manchester. Here was his line in the sectional title game: seven innings pitched with one unearned run on three hits (he was perfect through four) with no walks on 86 pitches. Of the 24 batters he faced, all but two outs came in the infield. He struck out the side in the first and third innings, including a nine-pitch first inning.
Those type of games don't happen too often.
- Best Moment: Seeing the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs win in the district semifinals was fun to see. The players knew they had done something that hadn't happened in a very long time at LC (1997), and they genuinely were happy and showed that emotion following the win. They personified what a team should be.
- Best Play: I really don't have a favorite play as there were many plays this postseason, but I will say, is there anything better in baseball than a perfectly executed double play from shortstop to second base to first base to end an inning? I saw a few of those this postseason.
- Best Venue: I'm always a fan of watching games played at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe as the voice of the Chillicothe Paints (and McClain Tigers) John Wend introduces the players at the plate.
• An overall success
As I stated earlier, the 2012 baseball and softball postseason was one of much success for Highland County schools. I'm already excited to see what happens a year from now, as many of the players will be returning, and while others have played their last high school game, there will be new faces that will surprise and create moments for their teams and schools that maybe we won't forget anytime soon.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor
Highland County didn't have a baseball or softball team advance to the regional tournament this season like the Fairfield Lady Lions did one year ago, but still, we had teams finally get over the hump and possibly a couple other teams from the same school show they have a lot to look forward to next season.
As I go further in this column, words from Whiteoak baseball head coach Chris Veidt stand out about the postseason, as he said this about his Wildcats being in the district finals: "My wish for this team is to just enjoy the ride and to appreciate the little things. I want them to enjoy the friendships and camaraderie we have built between us the last three months."
Well, a lot of teams had a great ride this postseason, so let's look back at moments, results and thoughts that stood out (at least to me) this postseason.
• Pitching, pitching and more pitching
If there's one thing nobody can say about Highland County this postseason, it's that there was a lack of pitching. There was the 17-strikeout performance of Whiteoak freshman softball pitcher Kiley Sosby over Portsmouth East for a sectional title and the 14 strikeouts by WHS junior baseball pitcher Gage Carraher for a sectional title win over Manchester.
In the district semifinal against Alexander, LC senior Terry Campbell pitched a fantastic seven-inning game for a 6-0 win on a very hot day in Chillicothe. What stood out for me was before the game, you could see the nerves
of Campbell in the dugout, but when he stepped on that mound, he was the same player who lost just one game this season (he finished the year 6-1). It was one of the better pitching performances I watched this postseason, as the best stat of the performance was he walked zero.
There was also the pitching of Hillsboro senior Tyler Griego against the Washington Blue Lions in the sectional final. In that game, he allowed no earned runs on five hits and no walks. Through six of the innings pitched, he held WCH to just two hits.
I also can't forget the one-hitter by junior Cierra Landrum in the sectional final. I've said it before in my Not off the Press column, but that was the quietest no-hitter through six innings I've ever covered, and that 2-1 win by McClain was the most unique game I've covered, perhaps in the past six years.
There were others, but those stand out the most.
[[In-content Ad]]• More postseason moments
- Best Game: Of all 21 games, the best of the postseason was the 2-1 seventh-inning win by the McClain Lady Tigers over WCH, as the Lady Tigers scored two runs in the same sequence on errant throws. I can't recall a game I covered ever ending like that.
- Best Performance: I've mentioned a lot of performances, but one I can't forget anytime soon was the complete dominance of Gage Carraher against Manchester. Here was his line in the sectional title game: seven innings pitched with one unearned run on three hits (he was perfect through four) with no walks on 86 pitches. Of the 24 batters he faced, all but two outs came in the infield. He struck out the side in the first and third innings, including a nine-pitch first inning.
Those type of games don't happen too often.
- Best Moment: Seeing the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs win in the district semifinals was fun to see. The players knew they had done something that hadn't happened in a very long time at LC (1997), and they genuinely were happy and showed that emotion following the win. They personified what a team should be.
- Best Play: I really don't have a favorite play as there were many plays this postseason, but I will say, is there anything better in baseball than a perfectly executed double play from shortstop to second base to first base to end an inning? I saw a few of those this postseason.
- Best Venue: I'm always a fan of watching games played at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe as the voice of the Chillicothe Paints (and McClain Tigers) John Wend introduces the players at the plate.
• An overall success
As I stated earlier, the 2012 baseball and softball postseason was one of much success for Highland County schools. I'm already excited to see what happens a year from now, as many of the players will be returning, and while others have played their last high school game, there will be new faces that will surprise and create moments for their teams and schools that maybe we won't forget anytime soon.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor