Tigers open season with win over Peebles

GREENFIELD — The season opened on a positive note for the McClain Tigers Monday evening, defending their home park with a 11-4 non-league win over the visiting Peebles Indians.

The Tigers had three batters finish with three hits and as a team totaled 13 hits in the seven-run win.

"It feels good to start the season with a win," MHS head coach Matt Raike said. "We hit the ball well, but we left 10 guys on base. I told them that we have to knock those guys in, and with our errors, (Peebles) scored three of their four runs off those.

"We have to capitalize and not have those errors and mistakes."

McClain led 1-0 after the first two innings were complete, and after each team added two runs in the third, the Tigers led by a 3-2 advantage.

Peebles added one run in the top of the fourth, but the Tigers answered with a three-run fourth, a four-run fifth and one final run in the sixth. In that same span, the Indians scored just one more run in the fifth inning.

PHS finished the game with seven hits and three errors. MHS committed four errors in the win.

As for the aforementioned batters with three hits each, Randall Mischal was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.

Dakota Hampton was also 3-for-4 with two runs, and Cameron Spangler went 3-for-5 with one run.

Jacob Stone finished 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI in the MHS victory, and Zach Puckett ended the game 2-for-2 with two runs.

"Our top four all hit well," Raike said. "We had some big hits, and I'm happy with the win."

The winning pitcher was Stone, who pitched five innings with 79 pitches. Mischal pitched in relief of Stone in the final two innings. Stone allowed four runs (none earned) on seven hits and two walks. He also struck out five.

Mischal allowed no hits or runs, but walked three and had one strikeout.

"Our pitchers looked great (Monday)," Raike said. "Stone did great. He led off with a lot of strikes, and he looked like the player we expected to see.

"Randall did a good job finishing the game. I'm very happy with the pitching and can't ask for more. We need to build on this win, and the guys know they are a better team this season."

MHS will play again on Wednesday as they host the Clinton-Massie Falcons in South Central Ohio League play.