Mechanicsburg 3, West Liberty-Salem 2
Mechanicsburg used a clutch fourth inning to edge West Liberty-Salem 3-2 and keep its unbeaten season intact.
Both starters were outstanding early, as the Tigers’ Reese Oder and the Indians’ Connor Eyink traded scoreless innings through the first three. Eyink worked out of a bases-loaded jam to keep things even before Mechanicsburg broke through.
In the fourth, Eyink helped his own cause with a double to set up runners at the corners. Hank Huffman followed with an infield single to bring home the first run, then Matthew Davis added a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Bodee DeLong capped the inning with an RBI single to push the lead to 3-0.
West Liberty-Salem responded in the fifth with three straight singles to open the inning. Josiah Johnson brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, and an error loaded the bases, but Eyink shut the door with a strikeout and a lineout to limit the damage.
The Tigers added another in the sixth on an RBI groundout from Braden Hershberger, but Davis came on in the seventh to close it out.
Eyink finished with nine strikeouts, while Huffman, Davis, and DeLong each recorded an RBI. For West Liberty-Salem, eight players had hits, with Hershberger and Johnson driving in runs.
Mechanicsburg improves to 10-0, while West Liberty-Salem falls to 7-5. The teams will meet again Tuesday.
Riverside 3, Covington 2
Riverside walked it off in dramatic fashion, edging Covington 3-2 behind a standout all-around performance from Brody Orsborne.
Orsborne was dominant on the mound, throwing a complete game while allowing two runs on eight hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.
Both teams were held scoreless early before Covington broke through with a two-out RBI single. Riverside answered right back, as Syler Clark singled, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Camden Shoe.
Covington regained the lead in the fifth with a leadoff triple followed by an RBI single, but Orsborne limited further damage.
In the bottom of the seventh, Riverside put together the winning rally. Hayden McCully singled, and pinch runner Carson Manning moved into scoring position. After a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Orsborne stepped up and delivered a two-RBI single to left to seal the walk-off win.
Orsborne also contributed at the plate with two RBIs, while four different players recorded hits.
Riverside improves to 11-3 and will travel to Milton-Union on Tuesday.
Urbana 6, London 3
Urbana broke things open with a big fourth inning and rode strong pitching to a 6-3 win over London.
London struck first, capitalizing on a bases-loaded error in the opening inning to take a 2-0 lead. From there, both pitching staffs settled in, keeping the game quiet until the fourth.
That’s when Urbana took control. The first three batters reached on a walk and two errors, and Colton Roberts brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly. After another free pass loaded the bases, Brody Donahoe drew a walk to tie the game, and Kevin Endres delivered a two-out single to give the Hillclimbers the lead.
Urbana added insurance in the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by a solo home run from Tate Lantz and a sacrifice fly from Bentley Cordial to make it 6-3.
Endres and BJ Potter combined for a dominant performance on the mound, striking out 14 batters while allowing just two hits and no earned runs.
Endres led the offense with two RBIs, and the Hillclimbers took advantage of eight walks and multiple London errors.
Urbana moves to 7-5 and will face London again on Wednesday.
Benjamin Logan 12, Shawnee 2
Benjamin Logan broke things open late to roll past Shawnee 12-2 in a convincing win.
Jacob Hawley was sharp on the mound, tossing a complete game while allowing just one earned run on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
The Raiders got on the board early when Soli Hughes led off with a double, moved to third on a bunt, and scored on a passed ball. After Shawnee answered, Benjamin Logan took control in the third. Hughes singled, Cayden Brown doubled, and Adam Tinsman delivered a two-RBI single to make it 3-1.
The Raiders continued to apply pressure. Gavin Riedmiller brought in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and a three-run sixth inning stretched the lead further. Brown and Tinsman again came through with run-scoring hits to make it 7-1.
Benjamin Logan put it away in the seventh. Oliver Morse added an RBI single, Brown drew a bases-loaded walk, and Tinsman delivered the knockout blow with a bases-clearing double before another run scored on a passed ball.
Tinsman led the way with a 4-for-5 performance and five RBIs, while Hughes added three hits and scored four times. Brown chipped in with two hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored.
Benjamin Logan improves to 7-5 and will look to complete the sweep of Shawnee on Wednesday.
Graham 12, North Union 2 (5 innings)
Graham controlled things from start to finish, run-ruling North Union 12-2 behind a strong all-around performance.
Nathan Crisler went the distance in the shortened game, allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out seven.
The Falcons wasted no time, scoring four runs in the first inning. Levi Hollingsworth drove in the first run, JP Morris added a bases-loaded walk, and Crisler helped his own cause with a two-RBI single.
Graham kept the pressure on with two-out rallies. In the second, Jack Traylor singled in a run before a pair of Wildcat errors allowed two more to score. Kingston McWilliams added a two-RBI double in the third to push the lead to 9-0.
North Union got on the board with two runs in the fourth, but Graham answered immediately. Jack Seeberg delivered an RBI single, and more defensive miscues helped three additional runs cross to make it 12-2.
Crisler shut things down from there to secure the run-rule victory.
Carson Powell was the only Falcon with a two-hit performance, while McWilliams and Crisler each brought home a pair of RBIs.
The Falcons are now 3-10 and will travel to face North Union again on Wednesday.
Indian Lake 5, Northwestern 0
Indian Lake turned in a complete performance, shutting out Northwestern 5-0 behind strong pitching and timely hitting.
Jackson Snipes set the tone, going five innings while allowing five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Brady Golliday closed things out with two no-hit innings.
The Lakers got started early with a sacrifice fly from Chance Persinger in the first. They added on in the fourth, using a pair of base hits to build a 3-0 lead. Lane Kipker doubled down the line, and Aaron Rapp followed with an RBI single for his first run batted in of the season.
Indian Lake kept adding insurance late. Kipker delivered another RBI double in the sixth, and Snipes helped his own cause with an RBI double to cap the scoring.
Kipker led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 day and two RBIs, while Rapp and Nixon Lillard each recorded two hits.
Indian Lake moves to 6-5 and will look to sweep Northwestern on Wednesday.
