Tigers gain redemption, earn SCOL victory
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — What a difference a couple days can make for the McClain Tigers. Just two days after a game with multiple miscues against their county rival, McClain played one of their best games of the season, defeating the London Red Raiders, 3-2 Wednesday.
The Tigers didn't necessarily gain redemption against their county rival, but they did in the South Central Ohio League standings as they move to 2-2 in the league with an overall mark of 4-5.
It can also be said two days later the Tigers played with a little more energy, cutting down the miscues, scoring runs early and keeping the lead until the final out was recorded in a pressure-packed situation.
In the final inning, the pitching of Jordan Boles ran out of steam, as he was relieved by Shawn Haddox, though Boles wasn't finished making plays for the Tigers in the inning.
Haddox entered the game with no outs and runners on second and third after one run had already crossed the plate in the inning off a throwing error to first base.
No big deal for McClain on this day, as Haddox had a strikeout to the first batter he faced of the called third variety. That was followed by perhaps the play of the day as Boles, who moved to shortstop, ran, then dove for the baseball in the infield for the second out, keeping the London runner stationed at third. Haddox ended the game as the ball was hit back to him, and he tossed it to first for the final out.
Boles was the winning pitcher for MHS, as he pitched six innings and three batters into the seventh. The senior allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits and one walk. Boles faced 27 batters, striking out three.
Haddox earned the save as he pitched one inning with one strikeout and no runs.
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"We had great pitching (Wednesday)," McClain head coach Brandon Streitenberger said. "London got hits, but Jordan threw strikes and made plays when we had to have them. This win is a credit to Jordan and to our defense.
"Shawn came in with a lot of pressure on him, and he showed guts. Jordan's play in the field, where he dove to catch the ball, was by far the play of the game. That saved the inning, and again, Haddox was great under pressure."
Then there was the Tiger scoring as they added three runs scattered throughout the course of the league catchup, with runs in the first, third and fourth innings.
In the first, with two outs, Cameron Spangler walked in a full-count, followed by Zach Puckett taking first after being hit in the back by a pitch. Spangler eventually scored in the inning as Kyle Flora (1-for-2) singled.
The third inning saw Brent Shannon score the Tigers' second run as he walked to begin the bottom portion of the third. Boles (1-for-3) moved Shannon over to second with a base hit, and Spangler sacrificed the runners over to second and third with one out.
Puckett gained the RBI after he ground out to third, scoring Shannon for the 2-1 lead, as LHS scored their first run in the top of the first inning.
An insurance run that proved to be the game-winning run came in the fourth inning where Caleb Rayburn started off the one-run inning with a single. He went to second on an error and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Zach Rumer. He scored on another sacrifice, this one by Shannon for what was a 3-1 lead.
"Our kids bounced back after the loss to Hillsboro on Monday," Streitenberger said. "That game was tough, but our goal is to get better with each game, and we did in this game."
Leading MHS at the plate was Dylan Trefz at 2-for-3. Also collecting a hit was Trevor Gossett in the sixth. Spangler walked twice, and Shannon forced one walk.
The loss went to Smith, who pitched five innings. Fisher pitched one inning of relief.
The Red Raiders were led in hitting by Long as he was 2-for-3 with one run and one walk. Scoring the second LHS run was Fouch. Fisher had London's lone RBI.
MHS plays again on Thursday as they travel to play at VA Memorial Stadium, facing North Adams in non-league play.
The Tigers didn't necessarily gain redemption against their county rival, but they did in the South Central Ohio League standings as they move to 2-2 in the league with an overall mark of 4-5.
It can also be said two days later the Tigers played with a little more energy, cutting down the miscues, scoring runs early and keeping the lead until the final out was recorded in a pressure-packed situation.
In the final inning, the pitching of Jordan Boles ran out of steam, as he was relieved by Shawn Haddox, though Boles wasn't finished making plays for the Tigers in the inning.
Haddox entered the game with no outs and runners on second and third after one run had already crossed the plate in the inning off a throwing error to first base.
No big deal for McClain on this day, as Haddox had a strikeout to the first batter he faced of the called third variety. That was followed by perhaps the play of the day as Boles, who moved to shortstop, ran, then dove for the baseball in the infield for the second out, keeping the London runner stationed at third. Haddox ended the game as the ball was hit back to him, and he tossed it to first for the final out.
Boles was the winning pitcher for MHS, as he pitched six innings and three batters into the seventh. The senior allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits and one walk. Boles faced 27 batters, striking out three.
Haddox earned the save as he pitched one inning with one strikeout and no runs.
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"We had great pitching (Wednesday)," McClain head coach Brandon Streitenberger said. "London got hits, but Jordan threw strikes and made plays when we had to have them. This win is a credit to Jordan and to our defense.
"Shawn came in with a lot of pressure on him, and he showed guts. Jordan's play in the field, where he dove to catch the ball, was by far the play of the game. That saved the inning, and again, Haddox was great under pressure."
Then there was the Tiger scoring as they added three runs scattered throughout the course of the league catchup, with runs in the first, third and fourth innings.
In the first, with two outs, Cameron Spangler walked in a full-count, followed by Zach Puckett taking first after being hit in the back by a pitch. Spangler eventually scored in the inning as Kyle Flora (1-for-2) singled.
The third inning saw Brent Shannon score the Tigers' second run as he walked to begin the bottom portion of the third. Boles (1-for-3) moved Shannon over to second with a base hit, and Spangler sacrificed the runners over to second and third with one out.
Puckett gained the RBI after he ground out to third, scoring Shannon for the 2-1 lead, as LHS scored their first run in the top of the first inning.
An insurance run that proved to be the game-winning run came in the fourth inning where Caleb Rayburn started off the one-run inning with a single. He went to second on an error and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Zach Rumer. He scored on another sacrifice, this one by Shannon for what was a 3-1 lead.
"Our kids bounced back after the loss to Hillsboro on Monday," Streitenberger said. "That game was tough, but our goal is to get better with each game, and we did in this game."
Leading MHS at the plate was Dylan Trefz at 2-for-3. Also collecting a hit was Trevor Gossett in the sixth. Spangler walked twice, and Shannon forced one walk.
The loss went to Smith, who pitched five innings. Fisher pitched one inning of relief.
The Red Raiders were led in hitting by Long as he was 2-for-3 with one run and one walk. Scoring the second LHS run was Fouch. Fisher had London's lone RBI.
MHS plays again on Thursday as they travel to play at VA Memorial Stadium, facing North Adams in non-league play.