SE District All-Star game ends in a tie
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — Though VA Memorial Stadium was filled with stars Monday afternoon, the game ended in similar fashion as the MLB All-Star game in 2002.
All-Stars from different divisions ended in a tie.
The North and South teams combined for 38 runs and 29 hits for a 19-19 score after nine innings.
The game took just over four hours to complete without a winner.
Highland County had seven players take part in the game, and the North squad was coached by McClain head coach Brandon Streitenberger, as he was co-coach of the year in Division II of the SE District.
It seemed the North team had the game in hand when the bottom of the ninth arrived as they held a 19-12 lead, needing three outs to wrap up the game.
But things changed in a hurry, as the South squad scored seven runs and collected seven hits along with one walk to tie the game.
None of the hits in the bottom of the ninth went for extra bases, with late runs being scored on wild pitches and passed balls.
For the Highland County players in the game (all playing for the North), Zach Uhl (McClain) finished 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs. Both hits were singles. Whiteoak's Ben Barnett was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, one run and was hit by a pitch.
Airic Steagall (Hillsboro) drew two walks and scored two times. Nathaniel Miller forced a four-pitch walk, and Gage Carraher (Whiteoak) reached the bases via walk and scored one run. Dalton Cox (Lynchburg-Clay) drew a base on balls and scored one run. Ian Adams also drew a walk.
After the South gained a 2-0 lead once the first inning was completed, the North team tied the game at two in the top of the second with runs scored by Uhl and Barnett. Both runs, which came with two outs, started with Uhl gaining an infield single and Barnett reaching the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Jordan Taylor (Southern) brought both runners home with a double.
The North jumped ahead 3-2 in the top of the third with Circleville's Reily Kiser scoring on a passed ball, after reaching the bases on a walk.
The South rallied back with a six-run third, but the runs continued to come for the North when they tallied four runs in their half of the fourth.
With two on base due to walks, including Miller, the North scored runs to cut the lead to 8-7. Scoring were Anthony Vagnier (Logan Elm), Mike Manuel (Southern), Bryce Bryan (Washington) and Carraher. Derek Ginther (Waterford) hit a two-run double for the North.
The North soon increased their lead to five runs with a five-run fifth inning, consisting of six hits. Steagall and Uhl scored two of the runs in the inning. Uhl knocked in Steagall with a single to straight centerfield.
After the North scored one run in the sixth, the score stayed the same for over one complete inning until the South added four runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the North advantage to 14-12.
The North added five runs in the top of the eighth for a 19-12 advantage. Cox had a lead-off walk, and after one out, Steagall drew the second walk of the inning. There were three more walks issued in inning and Uhl gained an RBI on a fielder's choice to, once again, score Steagall.
Following the game, Streitenberger was presented with his Coach of the Year plaque. Miller, Carraher and Uhl all pitched for the North team.
Logan Wise (McClain) and Cody Roush (Lynchburg-Clay) were selected to their respective District teams but were not in attendance to play in the game.
The South out-hit the North 19-11. Each team committed errors, with the South gaining four and the North finishing with two.
BOX SCORE
N 021 451 050 — 19 11 2
S 206 000 407 — 19 18 4
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