SIDNEY – Triad claimed the Division IV sectional baseball title at Sidney High School on Wednesday, defeating Fort Loramie 4-0. It was the Cardinals’ first sectional title since 2013.
Shane Ford started and threw a complete game for Triad. He was wild early, walking and hitting batters, but settled down after a couple of innings and scattered a few runners for the shutout.
“He did struggle some with his control,” Triad Coach Will Nichols said. “But he ended up pitching a very good ballgame. He worked out of some jams the first three or four innings and settled down. Obviously he was nervous. He was our closer last year. This was a little bit different, starting a big tournament game. He stepped up and overcame the butterflies.”
Trevor Instine was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI, officially getting the Cardinals on the board in the fourth inning with a shot to left center that scored Trent McIntyre from first.
“Trevor had a big hit to get us going. That was key, and then Isaiah Bruce giving us a little insurance – that was big also. We just needed somebody to get us a hit and that started it,” Nichols said.
Tim Marsalis was 2 for 3 and Briley Harlan knocked in a run for the Cardinals. In the sixth inning, Bruce broke the game open with a two-run single.
“I’m just happy to walk out of here with a win,” Nichols said. “Division IV is tough. And (Fort Loramie) won a couple – two or three – state championships in the past 10 years. They’re a good ball team, well-coached. They’ve put us out of the tournament three times and we finally got them this fourth time. I’m pretty happy about that.”
Triad (22-7) plays Newton on Friday for the district title at Centerville.
