Indians baseball ends ’26 season in district semifinals; falls to Warren

After waiting out a one-day weather delay due to rain in Southeast Ohio, the No. 6 seeded Hillsboro Indians battled the No. 7 seeded Warren Warriors, where the Indians saw their season end in the Division III SE District Semifinals by a 5-2 score at Wren Stadium on the campus of Ohio University in Athens. 

The Indians (13-12) totaled three hits in the loss, but the game was close throughout the seven innings played as the score was tied at 2-2 with Warren leading 2-0 following two runs scored in the top of the third, followed by Hillsboro scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. 

Warren added one run in each of the final three innings to seal the win over the Indians, with those runs crossing the plate in the top of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. 

The Warriors (15-14) finished the game with nine hits and one walk, while the Indians totaled three hits and one walk. Both the Indians and Warriors each committed three errors. 

Warren got the scoring started first with Braylen Murray hitting a one-out single to right field, followed by him taking second base with Aiden Lipscomb reaching first on an infield error. Next was a single by Tate Jones to load the bases. 

The first two runs of the game came when Jayce Hilverding singled to centerfield to scored Murray and Lipscomb for the two-run advantage. 

Hillsboro tied the score at 2-2 when Walker Pence hit a lead off single to right field, then reached third base on a hit by Jack Cornele, as both runners took an extra base on the single following an error in right field. 

Following two consecutive outs, Brody Kelch took first on an infield error, allowing both Pence and Cornele to score runs for a 2-2 score. 

Those were the only runs scored by the Indians in the game, as they trailed 3-2 in the top of the fifth when Lipscomb scored a run off a two-out double by Saben Jonas. 

In the top of the sixth, it was Warren scoring a run on a fielder’s choice when Murray hit the ball to second base for the out on the fielder’s choice, as Haiden Strong scored a run for the Warriors. Strong reached the bases with a leadoff single hit to right field and went to second on a sacrifice bunt, then to third on a single by Corey Floyd, all before scoring the run. 

The Indians threatened to add some runs in the bottom of the sixth with Logan Barton — who had Charlie Starks enter the game as a pinch runner — having a leadoff walk on six pitches, and he was followed on the bases with a one-out single by Cornele. Both Starks and Cornele were left on the bases as HHS recorded two consecutive outs with a pop up to the catcher in foul territory and a lineout to left field. 

The Warriors scored their final run of the game with Tate Jonas leading off with a triple hit to right field, and he scored off a single by Saben Jonas. The inning ended with the Indians converting a double play, with the catcher Cornele catching a fly ball then throwing the runner out at first base. 

Hillsboro's season came to a close when they were out in three straight at-bats via strikeout, a flyout to the shortstop and a ground ball to first base. 

Carter Strong was the winning pitcher for the Warriors, going all seven innings on the mound, allowing no earned runs on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. 

For the Indians, Luke Holland pitched six innings, allowing three earned runs with one walk and six strikeouts in six innings. Brady Juillerat pitched one inning in relief, allowing no earned runs with one hit and no walks. 

At the plate for the Indians, Pence was 1-for-3 with a run, and Cornele went 2-for-3 with a run. Barton forced a walk for Hillsboro. 

Warren was led by Saben Jonas going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Tate Jonas was 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple, and with one hit each were Murray, Hilverding, Haiden Strong and Floyd. 

HHS ends the season at 13-12 overall and 3-7 in the Frontier Athletic Conference. 

Seniors for the Hillsboro Indians are Nate Lane, Mason Dumpert, Zack Brown, Luke Holland, Charlie Starks, Walker Pence, Brayden Oberrecht, Jack Cornele and Brady Juillerat. 

BOX SCORE
WHS    002 011 1 — 5 9 3 
HHS    000 200 0 — 2 3 3