by Gregg Meadows
After a 2-2 record in a week of action – that included a suspended game in a key battle with MVL defending champs Sheridan – Coach Marc Hadley’s Tri-Valley varsity baseball team enters Week 3 of play with a solid 5-2 overall record.
The Scotties got their fifth win of the 2023 season the hard way, hanging on for a rarity in high school baseball, a 1-0 win over a solid Cambridge squad on Saturday afternoon, Apr. 8 in Dresden at Wolford Park.
Tri-Valley had just two hits in the game, and got the only run of the contest in their first at bat with a Bennett Baker bases loaded fielder’s choice that pushed across the lone score of the contest. Baker started on the mound for the winners as well, going four and two-thirds inning, allowing no runs and striking out three before giving way to teammate and fellow moundsman Landon Harney, who entered the game with bases loaded, but got a big strikeout to end the inning and keep the visiting Bobcats off the scoreboard. Harney finished the game, striking out five more batters in three and one-third innings of scoreless relief.
The Cambridge win came on the heels of a disappointing 4-2 loss on the road at New Lexington on Thursday night, Apr. 6. The Scotties took a 2-1 lead into the final inning, but couldn’t hold the advantage, surrendering three runs to the Panthers in their last at bat to suffer their second loss of the season. Tri-Valley batsmen managed just three hits, including a Daniel Huffman rbi double in the sixth inning, but got a solid pitching performance from junior Kyler Brennen, who gave up just two hits and three runs with two strike-outs in six and one-thirds innings of work.
On Wednesday night, Apr. 5 at the Scottie’s home Wolford Park diamond vs. MVL defending champs Sheridan, the Scotties and Generals battled to a scoreless tie through four innings before lightning, then rain, halted play and the game was suspended, to be resumed ahead of Tri-Valley’s Apr. 24 visit to Thornville.
On Monday night, Apr. 3 on the road at Muskingum Valley League Big School division rival River View, the Scotties defeated the Black Bears by a 10-3 count. Brady Kaufman led TV batsmen, going 3-4 at the plate, with two ribi’s, two doubles, and two runs scored and had plenty of help from Ethan McClellan (2-5, two rbi’s), Hansel Holmes (2-3, two rbi’s and a double), Bennett Baker (2-3, two rbi’s and a double), and Nathan Better (2-4 with two runs scored). Derrick Stotts and Daniel Huffman added doubles for the winners as well. Scottie hurlers Bennett Baker, Kade Hindel, and Landon Harney all ‘pitched in’ for the victory.
The Scotties start their third week of action for the 2023 season on Monday night, Apr. 10 on the road at MVL Big School divisional foe Maysville, then head home to Kenny Wolford Park for a pair of games – Thursday, Apr. 13 vs visiting Meadowbrook, then Saturday, Apr. 15, when the Scotties host non-league opponent Fort Frye.
Coach Logan Scott’s Scottie junior varsity team had a limited schedule this past week, with a game suspended against Sheridan as well due to bad weather – in Thornville – on Apr. 5 – with his team up 5-3. (They’ll resume that one in Dresden at Wolford Park on Apr. 24 ahead of the regularly scheduled ‘Round 2’ TV vs Sheridan JV contest.)
But Coach Scott’s reserve squad did get a big 11-2 win over visiting River View on Monday night, April 3 in Dresden at Kenny Wolford Park. In the win over the Black Bears, four different Scotties enjoyed multiple hit games, let by Keaton Hahn (2-4 with three rbi’s), Baiden Everly, (2-5 with a triple, two runs scored and two rbi’s), Ryan Lamonica (2-4 with a triple), Nash Baughman (2-3 with an rbi), and Gavin Harrold with a double. Isaiah Cullins – who had four KO’s – Quinton Hindel and Oliver Lanning combined their mound talents to limit the Black Bears to just three hits.
The Tri-Valley junior varsity – who fell to Cambridge 4-3 on Saturday, Apr. 8 on the Bobcats home field – jump back into action on Monday, Apr. 10 when they host the Maysville Panthers in Dresden at Kenny Wolford Park; first pitch is set for 5:00 p.m.
