Marion splits with Hillsboro

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 08 May 2012 15:05

Marion second baseman Zach Robson snags a high throw from third to force out base runner Luke Moore of Hillsboro in the sixth inning of Hillsboro’s 6-2 victory. Marion came back to win the second game, 6-0.

Marion’s Ethan Hett and Grif Case combined for a six-hit shut­out as Marion defeated Hills­boro 6-0 to earn a split of its doubleheader Friday in Marion.

Hillsboro’s David Nelson limited the Warriors to five hits in the Trojans’ 6-2 win in the opener.

With the split, Marion stands at 13-5 for the season while Hillsboro is 7-11.

The Trojans jumped to a 4-0 lead in Game 1 against Marion starter Austin Pedersen (3-2), who walked four batters and gave up three Trojan hits before he was relieved with two outs by Taylor Heidebrecht.

After Jakob Hanschu forced home the first Hillsboro run with a base-loaded walk, Lucas Sinclair followed with a two-run single. An infield single reloaded the bases and a walk to Cody Delk brought home the fourth run.

“It was fun to see us have a good inning to start the game, because we haven’t had many first innings where we jumped into the lead,” Hillsboro coach Doug Dick said. “I think we put Marion a little on their heels.”

Marion scored a single run in the second on a run-scoring single by Zach Robson, then scored again in the sixth on a double by Caleb Williams (6).

Hillsboro added a run in the top of the fourth inning on a walk and two hits, then added the final run in the seventh on hits by Hanschu and Sinclair plus a Marion error.

Nelson (1-3) struck out three and walked three in his complete-game victory.

“David’s been pitching really well his past couple of outings,” Dick said. “He’s doing a good job of keeping hitters off balance.”

In Game 2, Hett scattered four hits over six innings to improve his record to 4-3 for the year. He also went 3-for-3 from the plate with an RBI and a run scored.

Marion scored off Hillsboro’s ace, Kale Arnold, in each of the first four innings to take a 6-0 lead. Hett, Case, David Helmer and Pedersen provided run-scoring singles along the way. Helmer went 3-for-3 in the game with an RBI, while Hett was 3-for-4 with an RBI to fuel the Warriors.

“We did a good job to bounce back in Game 2 and salvage a split after an extremely poor effort in Game 1,” Marion coach Roger Schroeder said.

“Ethan threw the ball the best he has in the last few starts, so that is a big plus for us moving into the post season next week.”

“We are still in line for a top regional seed if we can win both games at Hoisington on Tues­day.”

Haven—Hillsboro broke a 1-1 tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 3-1 win over Haven and a split of their doubleheader May 1 at Memorial Field. Haven won the first game, 8-1.

In the second game, Hills­boro’s Kale Arnold and Haven’s Austin Smith squared off in a pitching duel through five innings.

Haven scored the game’s first run with a double and a sacrifice in the third, but Hillsboro tied in the fourth when Lucas Sinclair was hit by a pitch, Cody Delk walked with one out and Luke Moore drove Sinclair home with a single.

With the score unchanged in the bottom of the sixth, Sinclair singled but was thrown out on a ball hit by Micah Allen. Delk sacrificed Allen and Moore stepped up again with a run-scoring single. Faul followed with a base hit to drive in Moore for a 3-1 lead.

That was all Arnold needed. He ended the game with a one-hit seventh inning for a complete-game victory. The junior (3-1) scattered seven hits, struck out five Wildcats and walked only one.

Game 1 started in a similar vein as Moore and Haven’s Derek Dunn locked horns on the mound. After two scoreless innings, Haven scored twice without a base hit in the third. A hit batter, a walk and an error opened the door for Haven.

The Wildcats took control with three more runs in the fourth on only one hit.

David Nelson relieved Moore to start the fifth inning, and gave up the final three runs in the sixth inning on two hits, two walks, a hit batter and another Trojan error.

Hillsboro actually outhit the Wildcats, six to five, but Haven was aided by five walks, three hit batters and four Trojan errors. Dunn issued no walks; the Wildcats’ only error led to Hillsboro’s lone run.

Coming—Hillsboro was scheduled to complete its regular season Tuesday at Smoky Valley while Marion was to do the same against Hoisington.

Both teams will compete in the Class 3A regional Monday and Wednesday, May 14 and 16, at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina. In addition to the Trojans and Warriors, the bracket will include Southeast of Saline, Lyons/Chase, Mound­ridge, Sacred Heart and Wilson/Ellsworth. The tournament seeding will be announced later this week.