Madison County tops Hillsboro in late innings
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — In the nightcap of the annual Hillsboro Wooden Bat Tournament at Shaffer Park, host team Post 129 rallied back from a four-run deficit, took the lead, but in the end couldn't hold on in the late innings, falling to Madison County Post 105, 12-8 Friday night.
What stands out in the loss was the inability of the Hillsboro pitching staff to find the strike zone, as they issued a combined 18 walks. On the other hand, the Madison County squad issued just six walks, one being intentional.
Despite all the walks issued by the home team, they still managed to overcome four third-inning runs by Post 105, with three of their own in their half of that inning.
Hillsboro took a three-run lead in the fourth with a four-run inning of their own but lost it in the sixth with three runs scored by Madison County.
Again, Hillsboro regained the lead with a timely run in the sixth, but the seventh inning proved to be too much as they allowed five runs on three hits, two walks, one hit by pitch and an error.
Hillsboro scored their first three runs in the third inning with Ian Adams leading off with a walk. With one out, Cody Shaver singled through the middle of the infield. Adams scored on an infield error, and that error was followed with another error in the outfield that allowed Brady Camp to take first and Shaver to take home. Camp scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Luke Meyer.
Trailing by one run at the start of the fourth, Hillsboro finished the inning with a 7-4 lead with help from four hits and a sacrifice bunt.
The inning started off with Stephen Pappas singling to right field and later followed with a one-out walk by Taylor Smucker, which caused Post 105 to change pitchers. Adams laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Tucker Hughes singled in Pappas. Hughes was a big help for the next runner to score, as he beat out a run down in-between first and second base, allowing Smucker to score and Hughes to steal second base.
With two runs scored in the inning, Post 129 continued to add runs to the scoreboard with Hughes scoring on a single by Shaver who then scored on a base hit by Camp.
The three-run lead evaporated in the top part of the sixth in what would turn out to be a total of eight runs scored by Post 105 in the final two innings.
In the sixth, Madison County forced three straight walks on 12 consecutive pitches. After a strikeout, two more walks came, with the first three runners scoring, tying the game at seven.
Through all the walks and miscues, Post 129 continued to keep the pressure on, taking a one-run lead in the bottom half of the sixth with Adams hitting a one-out double to the centerfield fence. He took third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Meyer. The inning ended with a play at the plate.
The top of the seventh was forgettable for Post 129 but memorable for Madison County, with Post 105 adding five runs.
The standout play for Hillsboro came with Smucker diving in centerfield for the second out of the inning. Two of the Madison County runs came on an infield error.
At the plate for Post 129, Shaver led at 3-for-3 with the aforementioned intentional walk. Pappas was 2-for-4. Also gaining hits were Adams, Hughes, Camp and Meyer.
The loss on the hill went to Zach Uhl, who pitched in relief in the sixth inning. Corey Walker also pitched in relief.
The loss drops Post 129 to 5-12 overall.
They will host Circleville at 4 p.m. tomorrow and the Chillicothe Capitals at 6:30 p.m. in the second day of the Wooden Bat tournament.
GAME NOTES: Hillsboro struck out nine times and had two sacrifices (one bunt, one fly out) … Of the 18 walks, seven came in the final two innings … Hillsboro was retired in order in the seventh inning with the final two outs coming via strikeouts … Hillsboro sent 35 batters to the plate.[[In-content Ad]]
What stands out in the loss was the inability of the Hillsboro pitching staff to find the strike zone, as they issued a combined 18 walks. On the other hand, the Madison County squad issued just six walks, one being intentional.
Despite all the walks issued by the home team, they still managed to overcome four third-inning runs by Post 105, with three of their own in their half of that inning.
Hillsboro took a three-run lead in the fourth with a four-run inning of their own but lost it in the sixth with three runs scored by Madison County.
Again, Hillsboro regained the lead with a timely run in the sixth, but the seventh inning proved to be too much as they allowed five runs on three hits, two walks, one hit by pitch and an error.
Hillsboro scored their first three runs in the third inning with Ian Adams leading off with a walk. With one out, Cody Shaver singled through the middle of the infield. Adams scored on an infield error, and that error was followed with another error in the outfield that allowed Brady Camp to take first and Shaver to take home. Camp scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Luke Meyer.
Trailing by one run at the start of the fourth, Hillsboro finished the inning with a 7-4 lead with help from four hits and a sacrifice bunt.
The inning started off with Stephen Pappas singling to right field and later followed with a one-out walk by Taylor Smucker, which caused Post 105 to change pitchers. Adams laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Tucker Hughes singled in Pappas. Hughes was a big help for the next runner to score, as he beat out a run down in-between first and second base, allowing Smucker to score and Hughes to steal second base.
With two runs scored in the inning, Post 129 continued to add runs to the scoreboard with Hughes scoring on a single by Shaver who then scored on a base hit by Camp.
The three-run lead evaporated in the top part of the sixth in what would turn out to be a total of eight runs scored by Post 105 in the final two innings.
In the sixth, Madison County forced three straight walks on 12 consecutive pitches. After a strikeout, two more walks came, with the first three runners scoring, tying the game at seven.
Through all the walks and miscues, Post 129 continued to keep the pressure on, taking a one-run lead in the bottom half of the sixth with Adams hitting a one-out double to the centerfield fence. He took third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Meyer. The inning ended with a play at the plate.
The top of the seventh was forgettable for Post 129 but memorable for Madison County, with Post 105 adding five runs.
The standout play for Hillsboro came with Smucker diving in centerfield for the second out of the inning. Two of the Madison County runs came on an infield error.
At the plate for Post 129, Shaver led at 3-for-3 with the aforementioned intentional walk. Pappas was 2-for-4. Also gaining hits were Adams, Hughes, Camp and Meyer.
The loss on the hill went to Zach Uhl, who pitched in relief in the sixth inning. Corey Walker also pitched in relief.
The loss drops Post 129 to 5-12 overall.
They will host Circleville at 4 p.m. tomorrow and the Chillicothe Capitals at 6:30 p.m. in the second day of the Wooden Bat tournament.
GAME NOTES: Hillsboro struck out nine times and had two sacrifices (one bunt, one fly out) … Of the 18 walks, seven came in the final two innings … Hillsboro was retired in order in the seventh inning with the final two outs coming via strikeouts … Hillsboro sent 35 batters to the plate.[[In-content Ad]]