Staff report
SPRINGFIELD — An outstanding pitching performance from Mitchell Lindsey looked like it might be for nothing Friday in the Division 3 District baseball championship at Kenton Ridge High School in Springfield.
Lindsey was working on a three-hit gem, but his Anna Rockets went to the sixth inning trailing 1-0.
But the Rockets got a run to tie it, then seized all the momentum on a dramatic three-run homer to left by Kain Luthman to cap a four-run uprising.
That was plenty for Lindsey, and the Rockets came away with a 4-1 victory over Cincinnati Roger Bacon to advance to the D-3 Regional for the second year in a row, needing just two wins to play in the state tournament.
“We were just on the verge, just on the verge,” said Anna head coach Kristin Althauer, whose team is now 24-3-1 on the year. “We had our chances but couldn’t get anything. But the middle of our order had produced all year and they produced again.”
Roger Bacon got a run in the bottom of the third on a leadoff walk, a stolen base, and an error. But it could have been worse. Bacon also tried a suicide squeeze, but it failed. And Lindsey then got a strikeout to end the inning.
“He really pitched his way out of it that inning,” said Althauser. “And that was big. Another run there would have made it tough.”
Anna’s Luke Albers was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved into scoring position on a balk. Aidan Endsley then got his second hit of the game and it scored Albers to tie things up. After Nathan Frilling reached, Luthman hit a towering fly ball that just cleared the fence in left for a 4-1 lead.
“We had people scouting Roger Bacon and we knew they were well-tested in their league (Greater Catholic),” said Althauser. “Their top three hitters were solid, but after that they struggled a little. Mitchell was sharp. Of his 96 pitches, 63 were strikes. He was in the zone and he let our defense do the work. And we played great defense behind him.”
The linescore:
Anna`000 004 0`4`8`2
RB`001 000 0`1`3`2
Lindsey (WP) and White; Kuderer (LP), Speed (6) and Garrett.
Records: Anna 24-3-1, Roger Bacon 15-7.
Anna’s next game: Thursday, regional semifinals at Athletes in Action in Xenia vs. Marion Pleasant, 2 p.m.
——
Division 4
Lehman 8, TV 2
PLEASANT HILL — Lehman broke away from a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth, thanks in large part to wildness by Tri-Village pitchers, and the Cavs went on to beat the Patriots 8-2 in a Division 4 District baseball championship Friday at Newton High School.
The win puts Lehman at 22-4 and matches the Cavs up with Reedsville Eastern Thursday in Springfield in the regional semifinals.
Tied 2-2 going to the sixth inning, the Cavaliers took advantage of five walks and a hit batter to score six runs to seal the victory.
“We took advantage of it,” Lehman coach Dave King said. “But, we still made it happen. It is a tough situation (pitching in the rain). I feel bad for coach (Jim) Maples and Tri-Village. But both teams had to play in it. We have certainly played in worse.”
After Stephen Monnin walked, Owen Smith was hit by a pitch and Tyler Lachey walked to load the bases.
Brandon Barhorst, Nate Bosway had bases-loaded walks to make it 4-2. Lachey scored on a wild pitch before Parker Riley walked to load the bases.
Schutt followed with a two-run single and Dylan Arnold added a RBI double to make it 8-2.
Lehman had taken a 2-0 lead in the third.
Barhorst had singled and Bosway walked. With one out, Schutt’s grounder scored Barhorst and a throwing error allowed Bosway to score.
Dylan Arnold had a double for Lehman and Schutt had two hits and drove in three runs. Barhorst and Bosway both scored twice.
“Conditions were tough and I’m proud of (starting pitcher) Stephen Monnin getting us into the fifth inning,” King added.
The linescore:
TV`000 020 0`2`4`1
Leh.`002 006 x`8`8`2
Ricker, Wilson (5) (LP), Ricker (7) and Buckley; Monnin, Wiley (5) (WP) and Schutt.
Records: Lehman 22-4, TV 15-13.
Lehman’s next game: Thursday, regional semifinals at Springfield vs. Reedsville Eastern, 2 p.m.
