Fairfield falls to top-seeded Valley in district finals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — Scoring the first run of the game in the Division IV SE District Finals on Monday evening at VA Memorial Stadium wasn’t enough to fend off the top team in the state, as the Lions lost to the Lucasville Valley Indians, 4-1.
The No. 4 seeded Lions (17-5) had the hot start in the top of the first inning as momentum was on their side with Dow Moon leading off the game with a single to the shortstop. Next was a fielder’s choice, resulting in Moon out at second base and Jacob Morgan safe at first.
From there, Gabe Fouch took first on an infield error at shortstop, and Morgan raced to third safely. Morgan scored on a wild pitch in the ensuing at-bat for the 1-0 advantage. The inning ended with Valley having three errors and the Lions recording consecutive outs for the one-run lead.
Then came the bottom of the second, and the strong bats of No. 1 seeded Valley (20-3) were on display as they scored two runs, taking a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Indians added two more runs for the 4-1 advantage.
For the game, the Lions totaled four hits, with Moon finishing 2-for-4 and Hunter Burns going 2-for-3. Elijah Humphreys reached first base in the seventh inning on an error.
Landry Hattan took first base in the top of the second inning on an error, then took second base on the same error.
“We started hot and capitalized on the errors they committed, and ultimately, when I look out to the scoreboard and see us with zero errors with a young team like we have, there isn’t much you can say,” Fairfield head coach Kyle Zimmerman said. “We gave up a couple walks, and they made us pay for them with a couple key base hits, good base running and they were just the better team today.”
Even with the loss, the Lions still had a season full of success and continued to battle throughout the district final contest, as Zimmerman spoke about following the game.
“We talked about the past couple days … with only two seniors and we played Valley early on and they were nervous then because of that No. 1 ranking, but we come back here today and our guys knew we could play with them (FHS lost the regular-season matchup 6-4), and our first inning we were not afraid to swing the bat,” Zimmerman said. “The first time around we played them we didn’t swing the bat until the sixth inning.
“We swung the bat pretty well today, but Valley made the plays when they needed to and did what they needed to win the game. Ultimately, we are very young.”
The loss was charged to Fouch, who in six innings allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and seven strikeouts. Fouch threw a total of 105 pitches, 62 for strikes.
Seniors for the Lions are Hunter Burns and Jacob Morgan.
“Jake and Hunter will be sorely missed,” Zimmerman said. “I brag about them all year long, and everything they do for us on the mound they’ve done more people don’t see at least two to three times as much. Hunter had worked himself to death behind the plate this year, and we rode Hunter hard because he’s responsible for everything back there and the general on the field. Jake is a two-way player, plays in tough games, and what two great seniors to have as my first year as head coach. What an example for the players moving forward.”
The Lions in ‘22 were also the champions of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference (Division I) with an 11-2 record and sectional champions. They finished the season as the No. 19 ranked baseball team in the Division IV state poll.
In tournament games this season, the Lions defeated Portsmouth Clay (6-3) and Ironton St. Joseph (11-1).
“I told the boys after the game that as young as we are, a whole new coaching staff and only two seniors, for us to mesh together and now that we can see what we need to work on for next season and piece together early on, I see nothing but good things ahead for Fairfield baseball,” Zimmerman said.
[[In-content Ad]]
The No. 4 seeded Lions (17-5) had the hot start in the top of the first inning as momentum was on their side with Dow Moon leading off the game with a single to the shortstop. Next was a fielder’s choice, resulting in Moon out at second base and Jacob Morgan safe at first.
From there, Gabe Fouch took first on an infield error at shortstop, and Morgan raced to third safely. Morgan scored on a wild pitch in the ensuing at-bat for the 1-0 advantage. The inning ended with Valley having three errors and the Lions recording consecutive outs for the one-run lead.
Then came the bottom of the second, and the strong bats of No. 1 seeded Valley (20-3) were on display as they scored two runs, taking a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Indians added two more runs for the 4-1 advantage.
For the game, the Lions totaled four hits, with Moon finishing 2-for-4 and Hunter Burns going 2-for-3. Elijah Humphreys reached first base in the seventh inning on an error.
Landry Hattan took first base in the top of the second inning on an error, then took second base on the same error.
“We started hot and capitalized on the errors they committed, and ultimately, when I look out to the scoreboard and see us with zero errors with a young team like we have, there isn’t much you can say,” Fairfield head coach Kyle Zimmerman said. “We gave up a couple walks, and they made us pay for them with a couple key base hits, good base running and they were just the better team today.”
Even with the loss, the Lions still had a season full of success and continued to battle throughout the district final contest, as Zimmerman spoke about following the game.
“We talked about the past couple days … with only two seniors and we played Valley early on and they were nervous then because of that No. 1 ranking, but we come back here today and our guys knew we could play with them (FHS lost the regular-season matchup 6-4), and our first inning we were not afraid to swing the bat,” Zimmerman said. “The first time around we played them we didn’t swing the bat until the sixth inning.
“We swung the bat pretty well today, but Valley made the plays when they needed to and did what they needed to win the game. Ultimately, we are very young.”
The loss was charged to Fouch, who in six innings allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and seven strikeouts. Fouch threw a total of 105 pitches, 62 for strikes.
Seniors for the Lions are Hunter Burns and Jacob Morgan.
“Jake and Hunter will be sorely missed,” Zimmerman said. “I brag about them all year long, and everything they do for us on the mound they’ve done more people don’t see at least two to three times as much. Hunter had worked himself to death behind the plate this year, and we rode Hunter hard because he’s responsible for everything back there and the general on the field. Jake is a two-way player, plays in tough games, and what two great seniors to have as my first year as head coach. What an example for the players moving forward.”
The Lions in ‘22 were also the champions of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference (Division I) with an 11-2 record and sectional champions. They finished the season as the No. 19 ranked baseball team in the Division IV state poll.
In tournament games this season, the Lions defeated Portsmouth Clay (6-3) and Ironton St. Joseph (11-1).
“I told the boys after the game that as young as we are, a whole new coaching staff and only two seniors, for us to mesh together and now that we can see what we need to work on for next season and piece together early on, I see nothing but good things ahead for Fairfield baseball,” Zimmerman said.
[[In-content Ad]]