Indians drop home run derby with Red Raiders
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO – Playing in the cozy confines of the Pony League diamond at Shaffer Park, where the dimensions are 40 feet closer than that of the Legion diamond, the Hillsboro Indians and London Red Raiders combined for 29 runs and 29 hits in what turned into a mini home run derby.
The Red Raiders hit three home runs, and the Indians hit one.
A final run scored in the seventh inning by the Red Raiders proved to be enough, with London gaining their second South Central Ohio League win in as many days, defeating the Indians, 15-14, Friday in Hillsboro.
On Thursday, LHS defeated Madison-Plains. The Red Raiders are 2-3 in SCOL play.
"We came out and hit well," LHS head coach Jimmy Wolverton said. "We did the little things right and got key hits when we needed them."
The loss is the Indians' fourth loss in a row, fifth of the season, falling to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the SCOL. The Indians are two-time defending SCOL champions, sharing the title last year with the McClain Tigers. MHS defeated the Washington Blue Lions 4-1, Friday in Washington C.H. in SCOL play. MHS in 2-0 in the SCOL this season.
The run that settled the game came in the top of the seventh when James Williams walked with one out for LHS. Seth Deaver followed with a base hit on a full count. Jared Long was hit by a pitch. Deaver scored what turned into the winning run for the SCOL win.
HHS had opportunities to score the tying run, getting runners on the bases in the seventh inning. One out came on a double steal attempt at second base, and another throw was a play at the plate. The final out came on a swinging strikeout.
Getting to that point of the league matchup was a bit of a journey with LHS scoring seven runs in the first two innings, followed by a four-run third and three-run fifth inning.
The Indians scored four runs in the fourth and five runs in the third. In the sixth inning, the Tribe tied the game at 14 with five runs.
"This was a great up-and-down game, and being down seven runs, Hillsboro could have easily folded tent, but they didn't," Wolverton said. "They came back and battled, and Coach Hunt is doing a good job there."
In the game, there were two grand slams, London's Kyle Fisher clearing the bases in the top of the third inning, making the score 11-4. Fisher also hit a three-run homer in the fifth. Fisher finished 3-for-4 with a sacrifice fly and seven RBIs.
The other grand slam came in the bottom half of the same inning, as Eli Hogsett hit the ball over the centerfield fence, making the score 11-9. Hogsett finished 3-for-4 with six RBIs, batting from the No. 9 spot.
"We talked and tried to get on the big field. We (both coaches) knew it was going to be a homer fest, and it ended up being one. We just told our players you have to roll with it, and you have to make your adjustments," HHS head coach Tim Hunt said.
Hunt said his team talked about making adjustments following the game.
"You have to be able to make adjustments as a varsity player. Whether it is playing on a field like this or when you don't have your stuff down as a pitcher, you just got to roll with it and make the adjustments.
"There are a couple times where we've made some adjustments, and other times we took a couple steps back. There are some growing pains right now. We don't have a lot of experience at the varsity level, so we got a lot of kids who are playing at the varsity level for the first time, so that's part of our problem right now."
HHS has lost to London, Batavia, Miami Trace and Indian Hill in their last four games. They lost to LHS, MT and Indian Hill by one run each. On Thursday against Batavia, HHS lost 12-2.
"We've made great strides since our first game (a loss against Unioto)," Hunt said. "We had 11 errors against Unioto, and we have cut them down every game. We are getting better fielding. Hitting-wise, we are staying in the game, so I'm proud of the team for doing that.
"We just need to work on a couple things, including our base running. We need to stop making some base running mistakes, and these games will start going in our favor."
The win went to Carey, winning his first time pitching in a varsity game. The loss was charged to Tyler Griego, who pitched four innings of relief. The HHS starting pitcher was Corey Walker, and the London starter was Fisher.
At the plate, Carey went 4-for-5 with four singles.
Before all of the grand slam homers, it was the Red Raiders who struck first, scoring four runs in the first and three in the second for a commanding seven-run lead.
London began the game with a bunt single on the first pitch seen by freshman Zach Carey. On the second pitch of the game, Fisher doubled. Deaver walked with one out, and Jared Long singled down the third base line, scoring both Carey and Fisher. Also scoring in the inning were Deaver and Long.
In the second, Williams hit a three-run shot to centerfield, scoring Ricky Boyer and Carey, who reached the bases on singles.
In the bottom part of the second, HHS rallied with four runs. Paul Snyder was hit by a pitch, and he took second on a base hit by Aric Carroll. Chase Gilliland drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Hogsett followed with a two-base hit to right-center field, scoring Snyder and Carroll. Hillsboro's third run crossed home plate when Gilliland took advantage of a passed ball. The final run scored when Walker reached the bases on an infield error, scoring Hogsett.
London answered Hillsboro's four-run second with a four-run third with the aforementioned grand slam by Fisher. His slam scored Brady Wells, Boyer and Carey.
Trailing by seven runs, HHS answered with five runs in the third. The first run of the inning was A.J. Helterbrand, who scored on a single by Tyler Griego. The remaining four runs came on Hogsett's grand slam.
The two-run deficit of Hillsboro turned into five runs when LHS added three runs in the fifth. The fifth began with a walk by Boyer. The free pass was followed by a base hit by Carey and a home run off a light pole by Fisher, giving LHS a 14-9 lead.
Hillsboro rallied in the sixth, tying the score at 14. The sixth started off with a base hit by Hogsett, followed by a walk by Walker. HHS continued with a base hit by Brandon Wilson, scoring Hogsett. Wilson went 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI.
Walker scored on an errant throw. Dow Kiefer singled, and Helterbrand walked to load the bases.
The small ball effort for HHS continued to work with Snyder forcing a bases-loaded walk and Carroll, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs and one walk, brought home Kiefer with a base hit. Kiefer finished 2-for-4 with one walk and one RBI.
Griego, who finished 2-for-3, hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Helterbrand. Griego had two RBIs.
"The guys have been chipping away … every game we've been chipping way. We keep battling, and we are working the counts, and I credit them for working the count," Hunt said. "We've been talking about that, and they are starting to work the counts deeper. We are definitely happy with our offense."
HHS is scheduled to play in a three-team doubleheader Saturday at Whiteoak High School, playing in the final two games of the day. LHS is scheduled for a three-team doubleheader on Saturday, with their first game against St. Charles.[[In-content Ad]]
The Red Raiders hit three home runs, and the Indians hit one.
A final run scored in the seventh inning by the Red Raiders proved to be enough, with London gaining their second South Central Ohio League win in as many days, defeating the Indians, 15-14, Friday in Hillsboro.
On Thursday, LHS defeated Madison-Plains. The Red Raiders are 2-3 in SCOL play.
"We came out and hit well," LHS head coach Jimmy Wolverton said. "We did the little things right and got key hits when we needed them."
The loss is the Indians' fourth loss in a row, fifth of the season, falling to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the SCOL. The Indians are two-time defending SCOL champions, sharing the title last year with the McClain Tigers. MHS defeated the Washington Blue Lions 4-1, Friday in Washington C.H. in SCOL play. MHS in 2-0 in the SCOL this season.
The run that settled the game came in the top of the seventh when James Williams walked with one out for LHS. Seth Deaver followed with a base hit on a full count. Jared Long was hit by a pitch. Deaver scored what turned into the winning run for the SCOL win.
HHS had opportunities to score the tying run, getting runners on the bases in the seventh inning. One out came on a double steal attempt at second base, and another throw was a play at the plate. The final out came on a swinging strikeout.
Getting to that point of the league matchup was a bit of a journey with LHS scoring seven runs in the first two innings, followed by a four-run third and three-run fifth inning.
The Indians scored four runs in the fourth and five runs in the third. In the sixth inning, the Tribe tied the game at 14 with five runs.
"This was a great up-and-down game, and being down seven runs, Hillsboro could have easily folded tent, but they didn't," Wolverton said. "They came back and battled, and Coach Hunt is doing a good job there."
In the game, there were two grand slams, London's Kyle Fisher clearing the bases in the top of the third inning, making the score 11-4. Fisher also hit a three-run homer in the fifth. Fisher finished 3-for-4 with a sacrifice fly and seven RBIs.
The other grand slam came in the bottom half of the same inning, as Eli Hogsett hit the ball over the centerfield fence, making the score 11-9. Hogsett finished 3-for-4 with six RBIs, batting from the No. 9 spot.
"We talked and tried to get on the big field. We (both coaches) knew it was going to be a homer fest, and it ended up being one. We just told our players you have to roll with it, and you have to make your adjustments," HHS head coach Tim Hunt said.
Hunt said his team talked about making adjustments following the game.
"You have to be able to make adjustments as a varsity player. Whether it is playing on a field like this or when you don't have your stuff down as a pitcher, you just got to roll with it and make the adjustments.
"There are a couple times where we've made some adjustments, and other times we took a couple steps back. There are some growing pains right now. We don't have a lot of experience at the varsity level, so we got a lot of kids who are playing at the varsity level for the first time, so that's part of our problem right now."
HHS has lost to London, Batavia, Miami Trace and Indian Hill in their last four games. They lost to LHS, MT and Indian Hill by one run each. On Thursday against Batavia, HHS lost 12-2.
"We've made great strides since our first game (a loss against Unioto)," Hunt said. "We had 11 errors against Unioto, and we have cut them down every game. We are getting better fielding. Hitting-wise, we are staying in the game, so I'm proud of the team for doing that.
"We just need to work on a couple things, including our base running. We need to stop making some base running mistakes, and these games will start going in our favor."
The win went to Carey, winning his first time pitching in a varsity game. The loss was charged to Tyler Griego, who pitched four innings of relief. The HHS starting pitcher was Corey Walker, and the London starter was Fisher.
At the plate, Carey went 4-for-5 with four singles.
Before all of the grand slam homers, it was the Red Raiders who struck first, scoring four runs in the first and three in the second for a commanding seven-run lead.
London began the game with a bunt single on the first pitch seen by freshman Zach Carey. On the second pitch of the game, Fisher doubled. Deaver walked with one out, and Jared Long singled down the third base line, scoring both Carey and Fisher. Also scoring in the inning were Deaver and Long.
In the second, Williams hit a three-run shot to centerfield, scoring Ricky Boyer and Carey, who reached the bases on singles.
In the bottom part of the second, HHS rallied with four runs. Paul Snyder was hit by a pitch, and he took second on a base hit by Aric Carroll. Chase Gilliland drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Hogsett followed with a two-base hit to right-center field, scoring Snyder and Carroll. Hillsboro's third run crossed home plate when Gilliland took advantage of a passed ball. The final run scored when Walker reached the bases on an infield error, scoring Hogsett.
London answered Hillsboro's four-run second with a four-run third with the aforementioned grand slam by Fisher. His slam scored Brady Wells, Boyer and Carey.
Trailing by seven runs, HHS answered with five runs in the third. The first run of the inning was A.J. Helterbrand, who scored on a single by Tyler Griego. The remaining four runs came on Hogsett's grand slam.
The two-run deficit of Hillsboro turned into five runs when LHS added three runs in the fifth. The fifth began with a walk by Boyer. The free pass was followed by a base hit by Carey and a home run off a light pole by Fisher, giving LHS a 14-9 lead.
Hillsboro rallied in the sixth, tying the score at 14. The sixth started off with a base hit by Hogsett, followed by a walk by Walker. HHS continued with a base hit by Brandon Wilson, scoring Hogsett. Wilson went 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI.
Walker scored on an errant throw. Dow Kiefer singled, and Helterbrand walked to load the bases.
The small ball effort for HHS continued to work with Snyder forcing a bases-loaded walk and Carroll, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs and one walk, brought home Kiefer with a base hit. Kiefer finished 2-for-4 with one walk and one RBI.
Griego, who finished 2-for-3, hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Helterbrand. Griego had two RBIs.
"The guys have been chipping away … every game we've been chipping way. We keep battling, and we are working the counts, and I credit them for working the count," Hunt said. "We've been talking about that, and they are starting to work the counts deeper. We are definitely happy with our offense."
HHS is scheduled to play in a three-team doubleheader Saturday at Whiteoak High School, playing in the final two games of the day. LHS is scheduled for a three-team doubleheader on Saturday, with their first game against St. Charles.[[In-content Ad]]