PREBLE COUNTY — Twin Valley South and National Trail baseball each picked up wins this week as weather cancelled numerous games throughout the county.
Twin Valley South moves to 11-8 (3-6 CCC)
The Panthers moved three games above .500 this week, taking home wins over Bethel and Covington.
On Tuesday, April 27, South won 8-7 over Bethel, defeating the Bees on a walk-off double.
Levi Gearhart hit an early base-clearing, three RBI double in the first inning with two outs to give South a 3-0 lead, followed by an RBI double from Eric Allison follows with an RBI-double to go up 4-0.
After going down three runs in the seventh inning, Gage Miller connected on an RBI single to score Kasey Blair and cut the lead to two. With the bases loaded and two outs, Brayden Marker cleared the bases with a walk-off double to win 8-7.
Allison finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Levi Gearhart was 1-for-2 with a double, two runs and three RBIs. Brayden Marker finished 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs while Gage Miller was 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
“I thought we had some extremely clutch hits in the first inning, with Levi [Gearhart] clearing the bases and then Eric [Allison] hitting him in, both hits being with two outs. From there, our bats went pretty cold and we very easily could have just packed our bags and called it a night,” South coach Cory Bassler said. “However, we dug deep, fought hard in the seventh, and Brayden [Marker] came through with a massive hit for us to bring home the win. I also thought Brayden [Burkett] did a good job of relief work on the mound, throwing four really solid innings and giving us a chance to come back and steal it. Overall, just a really solid team win and I couldn’t be more proud of our guys.”
South followed it up with an 11-7 win over Covington on Wednesday, April 28.
Miller went six innings, striking out seven in the win.
Grant Ulrich finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Mikey Crews was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Gearhart finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
The Panthers will head on the road for two games this week, beginning against Miami East on Tuesday, May 4, and finishing with National Trail on Thursday, May 6.
National Trail (7-10) goes 2-2 on week
Trail’s week began with an 8-3 loss to Miami East on Tuesday.
Down just 4-2 after the sixth, Miami East scored four runs in the seventh to put the game out of reach for the Blazers.
Cameron Harrison took the loss for National Trail, going six innings and allowing four runs on five hits and striking out two.
As a team, the Blazers collected five hits on the day. Isaac Arnold and Clay Stiner each picked up a pair of hits.
Trail responded with a 17-2 win over Lehman Catholic on Friday, April 30.
Capped by a 12-run second inning, the Blazers had three players (Harrison, Cody Webb, Ben Browning) with at least three hits.
Harrison finished 3-for-4 with two singles, a triple and two RBIs. Webb was 3-for-3 with a double and a home run while scoring three runs. Browning was 3-for-4 with three singles and two RBIs. Arnold finished with three RBIs.
Ethan Murphy started for the Blazers, going three innings while allowing two hits and striking out five. Webb was credited with the win, throwing two innings with no hits and three strikeouts.
The Blazers explode offensively in their 17-2 win tonight at Lehman Catholic.
National Trail then split a doubleheader with Troy Christian on Saturday, May 1, taking game one 15-1 before falling in game two 10-0.
In game one, Webb went five innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out seven.
After a scoreless first inning, the Blazers exploded for seven runs in the second and six runs in the third, eventually adding runs in the fourth and fifth.
National Trail racked up 12 hits on the day with Ben Browning and Stiner each with multiple hits. Browning finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Stiner was 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.
In game two, the Blazers were held scoreless despite picking up seven hits.
Scoreless after three innings, Troy Christian scored three runs in the fourth, four runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth.
Michael Hollingsworth took the loss for National Trail, allowing six hits and seven runs over 4 1/3 innings, striking out two.
The Blazers will play six games in seven days this week, beginning with away games against Marion on Monday, May 3, and Tri-County North on Tuesday, May 4. Trail will host Twin Valley South on Thursday, May 6, and Northridge on Friday, May 7 before traveling for a doubleheader against Dixie on Saturday, May 8.
Preble Shawnee (10-6, 8-3 SWBL) drops lone game
Preble Shawnee played just one game this week due to weather, falling 1-0 to Carlisle in extra innings on Monday.
Scoreless heading into the eighth, Carlisle scored the game’s lone run in the bottom of the eighth for the win.
Grady Hutchinson went 7 2/3 innings for the Arrows with eight strikeouts. Dylan Hatmaker finished 2-for-3 with a triple.
The Arrows will play at Tri-County North on Thursday, May 6, before hosting Arcanum for a doubleheader on Saturday, May 8.
Tri-County North (6-10, 3-7 CCC) drops trio of games
The Panthers went 0-3 on the week, falling to 6-10.
On Monday, North fell 12-3 to Miami East. Cooper Cole took the loss on the mound and went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, a walk and two RBIs, and Luke Eby finished 2-for-4.
North fell the next day, 10-0 to Covington, before falling 14-4 to Cincinnati Christian Schools on Saturday.
The Panthers will host National Trail on Tuesday, May 4, Preble Shawnee on Thursday, May 6, and Anna on Friday, May 7.
