ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
Hillsboro young but worn down baseball team simply ran out of gas in a 14-4, 15-12 doubleheader loss to Inman on Monday.
In the opener, the Trojans were still in the game after six inning, trailing 8-4. But the Teutons rallied for six runs-including a pair of home runs-in the sixth inning to end the game by run rule.
Jared Fish absorbed the loss, giving up six runs in 42/3 innings.
Michael Bookless’s first home run of the season, a leadoff blast in the fourth, was the highlight for Hillsboro hitters, who managed only six hits for the game.
In Game 2, the Trojans exploded for 11 runs in the third inning to take what seemed to be a commanding 12-2 lead, only to see the Teutons score nine runs in the sixth to steal the victory.
In Hillsboro’s big inning, the Trojans pounded out six hits, drew two walks and had two hitters plunked by pitches. Inman chipped in two errors to help the cause.
But the Trojans returned the generosity in the fateful sixth inning. Hillsboro’s tired arms at one point walked eight batters in a row. Inman managed only three hits during the nine-run rally.
The losses dropped Hillsboro’s record to 3-13 for the season.
Lyons-Hillsboro into a tough Lyons squad last Tuesday and came up on the losing side of a 10-3, 12-0 sweep at Memorial Field.
In the opener, the Trojans played the Lions even at 1-1 through two innings as Hillsboro senior Brandon Moss squared off on the mound against Lyons sophomore Brett Higgins.
Lyons’ first-inning run was unearned, but not Hillsboro’s. The Trojans scored on a two-out home run by Adam Scheele, his first of the season and the Trojans’ third.
Lyons took the lead for good in the third inning when it scored another unearned run on a single and then an error in left field with two outs.
The second game was much less of a contest as the Lions broke open a scoreless game with five runs in the second inning against starter Travis Riesen.
The Trojan freshman gave up four hits in the inning, but his teammates contributed five errors to the debacle.
Coming-The Trojans were scheduled to follow their makeup doubleheader with Inman on Monday with a doubleheader the following day against Moundridge.
Results of the Moundridge games will appear in this week’s Free Press Extra.
Regional play begins next week. The Trojans will travel to Lyons on Monday to battle a field that includes the host team as well as Beloit, Southeast of Saline and Marion.
Hillsboro drops a pair of baseball games to Inman Teutons
