Season ends for Post 129 in District 7 tourney
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — The quick two-run first inning by Hillsboro Post 129 wasn't able to turn into momentum for the entire game as the hot bats of Portsmouth Post 23 placed the ball wherever they wanted en route to defeating Post 129, 13-3 in eight innings, ending the summer for the squad from Hillsboro.
The run-rule loss (the game was scheduled for nine innings) to Post 23 in the District 7 tournament came one day following a 4-3 10-inning loss to Circleville Post 134 who Portsmouth (32-15) will face in the finals Tuesday at VA Memorial Stadium.
Post 129 finishes the season 19-27 overall, 10-7 in the summer SCOL and 2-2 in the District 7 tournament as they gained postseason wins over Chillicothe Post 757 and Washington C.H. Post 25 on Friday and Saturday.
"We just didn't have it (Monday)," Hillsboro head coach Ritchie Butler said. "We hit well, but we didn't gain hits together. That's been the same story all season.
"I knew it would be tough coming back from the extra-inning loss on Sunday where we gave up four unearned runs. It's hard to come back after a tough loss like that."
Hillsboro had the aforementioned quick, but successful first inning with the two runs, but it didn't last as Post 23 tied the game following the completion of the bottom of the first. Portsmouth took a 4-2 lead following the second, and from there on Post 23 added one run in the fifth, three runs in the sixth, a three-run seventh and ended the game with two runs in the eighth inning for the win.
"The first inning we got the lead, but after that we just didn't have it," Butler said. "Hats off to Portsmouth, they hit the ball really well.
"I told the guys after the game when we played good defense we were able to win. In the first two games of the district tournament, our defense helped keep the lead. We had great outings from our pitchers this postseason."
The first inning for Hillsboro began with Brandon Wilson opening the game with an infield single. He scored on a one-out triple to the centerfield wall by Tyler Griego for the one-run lead. Paul Snyder made it a 2-0 score with a double to centerfield, scoring Griego.
Hillsboro's lead didn't last long as Portsmouth answered with two runs in their half of the first, followed with two more runs in the second for a 4-2 advantage.
Hillsboro cut the deficit to one run in the top of the fourth with Nathaniel Miller reaching first on a one-out line drive single up the middle of the infield. Miller scored from third via a two out base hit to left field by Bryce Bean.
That was all the scoring for Hillsboro as they were unable to gain any sort of rally, being held scoreless from the fifth inning until the completion of the game as they totaled eight hits (two for extra bases) and two walks. Hillsboro left five runners stranded on the bases.
Leading Hillsboro at the plate was Griego at 2-for-4 and Luke Taggert finishing 2-for-3.
The loss on the hill went to Joey Wilson for Post 129 as he pitched 4 1-3 innings. The winning pitcher was Martin of Post 23 who improves to 5-0 overall. Also pitching for Hillsboro was Nick Bush and Derek Peters.
Post 23 finished with 17 total hits.
Playing their final game for the Post 129 team were Matt Carey, Casey Jordan, Dustin Taylor, Nathaniel Miller, Paul Snyder and Brandon Wilson.
"We're going to miss those guys for all they've done this season and for past seasons," Butler said.
Butler finished up by speaking about the season overall.
"The season overall was enjoyable. We played some really good competition, and many of the teams we played will be in the state tournament next week. We won games maybe we shouldn't have, and we lost games we shouldn't have, but that's the nature of baseball."
- - - -
On Sunday, Post 129 lost 4-3 in 10 innings to Circleville Post 134. Hillsboro allowed four unearned runs combined in the sixth, seventh, eight and 10th innings as Hillsboro lost a 3-0 lead.
All four runs scored by Circleville came in innings where Post 129 committed errors.
For Hillsboro's scoring, they scored twice in the first inning with Corey Walker (who hit a triple) and Paul Snyder crossing home plate. In the fourth, Nathaniel Miller scored the final Hillsboro run of the game.
From the fifth through ninth innings, Hillsboro was held hitless, as they broke the skid in the 10th with a single by Walker.
For the game Sunday, Walker led with two hits, followed by Snyder, Miller, Taggert, Taylor and Bean with one hit each.
BOX SCORE
vs. Portsmouth Post 23
H 200 100 00 — 3 8 5
P 220 013 32 — 13 17 1[[In-content Ad]]
The run-rule loss (the game was scheduled for nine innings) to Post 23 in the District 7 tournament came one day following a 4-3 10-inning loss to Circleville Post 134 who Portsmouth (32-15) will face in the finals Tuesday at VA Memorial Stadium.
Post 129 finishes the season 19-27 overall, 10-7 in the summer SCOL and 2-2 in the District 7 tournament as they gained postseason wins over Chillicothe Post 757 and Washington C.H. Post 25 on Friday and Saturday.
"We just didn't have it (Monday)," Hillsboro head coach Ritchie Butler said. "We hit well, but we didn't gain hits together. That's been the same story all season.
"I knew it would be tough coming back from the extra-inning loss on Sunday where we gave up four unearned runs. It's hard to come back after a tough loss like that."
Hillsboro had the aforementioned quick, but successful first inning with the two runs, but it didn't last as Post 23 tied the game following the completion of the bottom of the first. Portsmouth took a 4-2 lead following the second, and from there on Post 23 added one run in the fifth, three runs in the sixth, a three-run seventh and ended the game with two runs in the eighth inning for the win.
"The first inning we got the lead, but after that we just didn't have it," Butler said. "Hats off to Portsmouth, they hit the ball really well.
"I told the guys after the game when we played good defense we were able to win. In the first two games of the district tournament, our defense helped keep the lead. We had great outings from our pitchers this postseason."
The first inning for Hillsboro began with Brandon Wilson opening the game with an infield single. He scored on a one-out triple to the centerfield wall by Tyler Griego for the one-run lead. Paul Snyder made it a 2-0 score with a double to centerfield, scoring Griego.
Hillsboro's lead didn't last long as Portsmouth answered with two runs in their half of the first, followed with two more runs in the second for a 4-2 advantage.
Hillsboro cut the deficit to one run in the top of the fourth with Nathaniel Miller reaching first on a one-out line drive single up the middle of the infield. Miller scored from third via a two out base hit to left field by Bryce Bean.
That was all the scoring for Hillsboro as they were unable to gain any sort of rally, being held scoreless from the fifth inning until the completion of the game as they totaled eight hits (two for extra bases) and two walks. Hillsboro left five runners stranded on the bases.
Leading Hillsboro at the plate was Griego at 2-for-4 and Luke Taggert finishing 2-for-3.
The loss on the hill went to Joey Wilson for Post 129 as he pitched 4 1-3 innings. The winning pitcher was Martin of Post 23 who improves to 5-0 overall. Also pitching for Hillsboro was Nick Bush and Derek Peters.
Post 23 finished with 17 total hits.
Playing their final game for the Post 129 team were Matt Carey, Casey Jordan, Dustin Taylor, Nathaniel Miller, Paul Snyder and Brandon Wilson.
"We're going to miss those guys for all they've done this season and for past seasons," Butler said.
Butler finished up by speaking about the season overall.
"The season overall was enjoyable. We played some really good competition, and many of the teams we played will be in the state tournament next week. We won games maybe we shouldn't have, and we lost games we shouldn't have, but that's the nature of baseball."
- - - -
On Sunday, Post 129 lost 4-3 in 10 innings to Circleville Post 134. Hillsboro allowed four unearned runs combined in the sixth, seventh, eight and 10th innings as Hillsboro lost a 3-0 lead.
All four runs scored by Circleville came in innings where Post 129 committed errors.
For Hillsboro's scoring, they scored twice in the first inning with Corey Walker (who hit a triple) and Paul Snyder crossing home plate. In the fourth, Nathaniel Miller scored the final Hillsboro run of the game.
From the fifth through ninth innings, Hillsboro was held hitless, as they broke the skid in the 10th with a single by Walker.
For the game Sunday, Walker led with two hits, followed by Snyder, Miller, Taggert, Taylor and Bean with one hit each.
BOX SCORE
vs. Portsmouth Post 23
H 200 100 00 — 3 8 5
P 220 013 32 — 13 17 1[[In-content Ad]]