EATON — Two one-run games provided a disappointing end to an outstanding season for the Eaton varsity baseball team. The Eagles final week of the season included a 3-2 loss in their regular season finale and a split of the team’s two post-season games.
The Eagles entered last week with a chance to take the top spot in the Southwestern Division of the SWBL. Eaton set up the opportunity with a win against Oakwood the previous week to create a tie at the top of the standings with one game to go.
On Monday, May 8, after the game was postponed from the previous Friday due to rain, Eaton travelled to Oakwood for a second straight game against the Lumberjacks. With both teams at 9-2 in the division, the season finale became a “winner take all” game for the title.
In an another close game between the division’s top two teams, Oakwood came away with the win 3-2.
On Wednesday, Eaton opened the OHSAA postseason tournament at home against Trotwood Madison. Eaton entered the tournament as the No. 9 seed, with TM at No. 18.
After a slow start offensively, Eaton got untracked in the fifth inning and went on to an 11-1 win. Eaton held a slim 2-1 advantage going into that inning, but was able to take advantage of several T-M miscues and eventually for their offense going.
In the opening innings, Eaton relied on pitching and defense to keep the game close. Eaton senior Ghye Wilson got the start on the mound and held the Rams to just one run.
The win set up a road game on Thursday at Ross, the bracket’s number one seed. Ross entered the Eaton game with a 20-4 mark. They earned the top spot in the standings of the Southwestern Ohio Conference at 10-2.
In a second tight ballgame during the week, Eaton came up short suffering a 1-0 loss.
“Their guy threw extremely well. We struggled at the plate, but it was a well played ball game on both ends. I hate to see these seniors go and it was a tough way to go out, but these seniors have had a great year and it has been my absolute pleasure to coach them over the last two years,” Eaton Patrick Flanagan said.
Eaton finished the season with a 16-7 record overall, in second place in the division at 9-3. Coach Patrick Flanagan was recognized by the SWBL as Southwestern Division Co-Coach of the Year, along with Oakwood’s Bob Hunt.
Eaton placed three players on the SWBL First Team – seniors Bradley Curry, Colton Gray and Trevor Pittman. Second Team selections included seniors Blake Curry and Donnie Nicodemus. Also receiving SWBL recognition as Honorable Mention selections were seniors Lew Bowser and Ghye Wilson.
