SPRINGFIELD — Urbana survived a flurry of miscues and pressure from Kenton Ridge to beat the Cougars, 7-6, in the Division II sectional baseball tournament on Wednesday.
The game started with some bumps and it looked as though it would not be the Hillclimbers’ day.
In the top of the first, Urbana was able to load the bases with two outs, but couldn’t come through with a key hit to scratch a run across. Trenton Dunham smashed a ball down the first base line, but the defender swallowed it up to end the threat. In the bottom of that frame, a couple of walks, a hit batter and a couple of off-target throws led to a pair of Kenton Ridge runs.
It was more of the same rocky road after that, with Dillon Watkins working his way out of trouble without damage until the fourth. An Urbana throwing error on a sacrifice bunt left two Cougars on base, with a monster shot that turned into a triple scoring them.
Then, something spectacular turned the tide in the Hillclimbers’ favor. Urbana scored all seven of its runs in the fifth inning, charging up an offensive attack that featured two walks and six hits strung together to deal the damage.
The back-breaker was a two-run double by Seth Mangus. Urbana was able to knock the starting pitcher and his replacement out of the game – all with no outs.
“The fifth inning was great,” UHS Coach Kevin Bowdle said. “The kids executed everything we called that inning.”
The crown jewel to top off the inning was Watkins’ steal of home plate after Skyler Reisinger had just scored on a wild pitch the play before.
The Cougars threatened in each of the remaining innings, but only managed two runs – one in the fifth and one in the seventh. The final out came on a fly ball to left field with runners at the corners, sealing the win for Urbana. For the game, Kenton Ridge left 11 runners on base.
“That’s what can happen when you play loose, play fundamental,” Bowdle said.
For the game, Kaleb Bowdle was 2 for 4, Seth Mangus was 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI, Dillon Watkins was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Skyler Reisinger was 1 for 2 with an RBI and Logan Rooney was 1 for 3. Caleb Peterson had an RBI.
Urbana advances to play at Tippecanoe on Thursday at 5 p.m. A rain-out would push the game to Friday.
Cardinals win
NORTH LEWISBURG – Triad defeated Covington, 4-0, in sectional baseball on Wednesday.
For Triad, Tim Marsalis was 2 for 2 and Isaiah Bruce was 2 for 3. Shane Ford struck out 8 batters while pitching a complete game.
Triad will play Fort Loramie on Wednesday, May 19 in the sectional final.
Tigers lose in softball
WEST LIBERTY – Indian Lake defeated West Liberty-Salem, 3-1, in sectional softball on Wednesday.
Olivia Ames, Dierdre McGill and Kelsey Day each had a hit for WL-S.
The Tigers end the season at 22-4 overall.
Falcons lose in baseball
SPRINGFIELD – Shawnee defeated Graham, 14-4, in six innings of sectional baseball on Wednesday.
Graham committed 5 errors in the game, with Shawnee gathering 8 hits.
Allen St. Myers had 2 hits for Graham.
The Falcons finish the season at 9-18-1 overall.
Indians fall on the road
FORT LORAMIE – Mechanicsburg lost to Fort Loramie, 7-1, in sectional baseball on Wednesday.
“We saw some good pitching tonight. We played them tough,” M’burg Coach Bryan Eyink said.
Caleb Newsome was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI, Joey Butsch was 1 for 3 and Logan Hartman was 1 for 3 for the Indians.
“They’re just a solid baseball team. They got a couple of key hits and we had some opportunities. They got them tonight and we didn’t,” Eyink said.
MHS finishes the year at 17-8 overall.
Hillclimbers softball wins
Urbana defeated Bellefontaine, 10-2, in sectional softball on Wednesday.
The Hillclimbers are scheduled to play Kenton Ridge on Thursday.
8-u softball
LaPalma beat Family Stitchery, 3-1.
LaPalma’s outstanding players were Zoe Carter and Destiny Ramirez.
Family Stitchery’s outstanding players were Addison Brokamp and Lindsey Walborn.
10-u softball
Kingscreek defeated Bet-R-Buy Auto Sales, 11-10. Outstanding players for Kingscreek were Leah Ropp and Madi Detwiler. Outstanding players for Bet-R-Buy Auto Sales were Sydnie Hoffman and Londyn Loveless.
10-u baseball
Alise Photography beat Moose, 6-5.
Zaylor Eggleston was a standout for Alise.
