Lions gain sectional championship with convincing win over Sciotoville East
Fairfield junior Gabe Fouch struck out nine batters in four innings, while at the plate he was 2-for-3 with four runs, six RBI and two home runs against Sciotoville East. (HCP Photos/Stephen Forsha)
LEESBURG — The No. 2 seeded Fairfield Lions controlled all aspects of their 2023 Division IV SE District Sectional Final game on Tuesday, defeating the No. 15 East Tartans in five innings by a 17-3 score and becoming sectional champions.
The Lions were led by junior Gabe Fouch, who not only gained the win on the mound, but he also hit two three-run home runs in the win, leading to a game where he was 2-for-3 with four runs, six RBI, the two home runs, a walk and one steal.
On the mound, Fouch pitched four innings, allowing one earned run on one hit and one walk, along with nine strikeouts.
Fairfield led 3-0 after the first inning and followed that with a five-run second inning, then another inning with five runs crossing the plate in the bottom of the third inning for a 13-0 lead.
East scored their first run in the top of the fourth, but the Lions answered with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. East scored two final runs in the fifth inning, but those runs weren’t enough to fend off a Fairfield run-rule victory.
The game saw the Lions total 12 hits and commit three errors, while East had two hits and four errors.
Zane Matthews finished 3-for-3 with three runs, a double, two RBI and two steals. Dow Moon went 2-for-2 with three runs, a walk and two steals.
Noah Allering finished 1-for-3 with a double, four RBI and a sacrifice fly. Blaine Fauber was 1-for-2 with a run.
Wyatt Harner was 1-for-1 with a run, while Landry Hattan went 1-for-2 with a double, two runs and a steal.
Cade Miller went 1-for-3 with a run and RBI. Wyatt Collins totaled two walks, and Brandon Ludwick scored a run and walked once. Wyatt Willey collected a run and steal.
Also on the mound, Allering pitched one inning, allowing two unearned runs on one hit and no walks. Allering finished with three strikeouts.
The No. 2 seeded Fairfield Lions will next play in the Division IV SE District Semifinals on Saturday, May 20 at VA Memorial Stadium at around 5 p.m. (rolling time on district games Saturday) against the winner of Green and Waterford.
