NEW PARIS — National Trail’s baseball team claimed a share of the Cross County Conference championship with a 5-4 win over visiting Tri-County North last week.
The win was part of a perfect 4-0 week for the Blazers, who improved to 15-4 overall and 10-1 in the CCC.
Trail also picked ups wins over Marion Local (9-3), Valley View (12-5) and Dixie (12-2).
The Blazers were scheduled to play Twin Valley South on Monday, May 13 with a chance to win the title outright.
Against North, National Trail got its offense started in the first inning with singles by Cameron Harrison, Travis Hunt, and Hunter Lindsey.
Harrison and Hunt were driven in when Austin Knapp singled as Trail built a 3-0 lead after one.
North battled back to take a 4-3 lead, scoring three times in the third and another in the fourth.
Trail tied the game in the 4th with a Harrison single, a double by Hunt, and a sac fly by Peyton Lane.
The game was tied at four with National Trail batting in the bottom of the fifth when Hunter Michael’s sac fly scored a run.
Harrison was the winning pitcher for the Blazers. He surrendered five runs on eight hits over five innings, striking out two. Kenny Moore threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Moore recorded the last six outs to earn the save.
National Trail totaled 12 hits. Travis Hunt, Knapp, Harrison, and Hunter Lindsey each managed multiple hits. Hunt led going 4-for-4. Knapp went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
Trail began the week with by knocking of Marion Local on Monday, May 6.
After falling behind 2-0 after a half an inning, Trail scored nine straight runs to claim the win.
The Blazers scored three times in the first, second and fourth innings.
Trail scored on a single by Lindsey, an error, and a single by Hunter Michael in the first inning.
In the second, Lane tripled to drive in a run in the second inning and also added a run on a single by Lindsey in the second inning
Trail scored three runs in the fourth inning. The rally was led by a single by Lane and a single by Knapp, which scored two.
Cody Webb got the win for Trail. He lasted two innings, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out one and walking one. Colten Everman, Travis Hunt, and Hunter Lee all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.
Trail had 11 hits on the day led by Harrison, Lindsey, Hunt, and Lane, who each had multiple hits.
On Friday, Trail traveled to 5/3 Field, home of the Dayton Dragons, in Dayton to play Valley View.
The Blazers used a seven-run fourth inning to break open a close game and earn the win.
Trail’s big inning was driven by a walk by Joe Lawson, a single Lee, a fielder’s choice by Lane, and an error on a ball put in play by Harrison.
Moore pitched his team to the win. He went four and a third innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking none. Webb and Lee entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
Harrison and Lindsey each had two hits and Lane drove in three runs.
Trail closed out the with a run-rule win over Dixie.
The Blazes scored twice in the first and three in the second to take control. They added two more runs in the fourth and ended the game with a five-run fifth.
In the fifth, Michael, Moore, and Lawson all drove in runs.
Hunt was credited with the victory. He pitched four innings, allowing five hits and no runs while striking out one. Wyatt House threw one inning in relief.
Lawson went 2-for-3 at the plate.
In addition to playing Twin Valley South on Monday, the Blazers will visit Preble Shawnee on Tuesday and travel to Franklin-Monroe on Wednesday. Trail will also travel to Northridge on Thursday and Minster on Saturday.
