Eagles soar past Lancers

STEWART — Eastern baseball struck early and often Monday night against host Federal Hocking, pounding out a dozen hits while leading start to finish in a 14-3 triumph during a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division matchup.

The Eagles (6-4, 4-0 TVC Hocking) scored at least twice in five of their seven at-bats, including four runs in the top of the first to jump out to an early 4-0 cushion. The Lancers countered with a run in their half of the first, then both quads scored twice in the third to make it a 6-3 contest through three complete.

From there, the night belonged to Eastern — which scored eight unanswered runs the rest of the way to wrap up the 11-run outcome.

Titus Pierce once again pitched the guests to victory, allowing just three hits and five walks over seven innings for the decision. Pierce also struck out 10 and allowed only one earned run.

Pierce and Zach Hendrix also led the offensive attack with four hits, followed by Nick Brannon with two. Tyler Hendrix, Derek Griffin and Andrew Benedum also added a safety apiece. Pierce also had a team-high six RBIs, followed by Benedum with three RBIs.

Grant Smith, Bobby Anderson and Chad Campbell each had a hit for the hosts. Tyler Thompson, who walked two and struck out two over seven innings, took the loss for Fed Hock.

Eastern 14, Fed Hock 3

Eastern 402 420 2 — 14 12 2

Fed Hock 102 000 0 — 3 3 4

WP — Pierce; LP — Thompson.

Blue Devils outlast Ironton

GALLIPOLIS — Back-to-back two-run innings in the bottom of the fifth and sixth ultimately allowed the Gallia Academy baseball team to prevail over visiting Ironton by a 6-3 outcome Monday night during a Southeastern Ohio Athletic League South Division contest at Memorial Field.

The Blue Devils (5-2, 4-1 SEOAL South) led 2-1 after two full innings, but the Fighting Tigers rallied for a run in each of the third and fifth frames to take a 3-2 edge after four and a half innings.

But in the bottom of the fifth, the hosts took the lead for good thanks to pair of timely hits and a key sacrifice fly. Tyler Eastman doubled to lead off the frame, then Austin Roush singled Eastman home to knot things up at three apiece.

Kyle Dingess provided a sacrifice fly two batters later, allowing Roush to score with the eventual game-winning run.

GAHS added a pair of insurance runs the easy way, thanks to a pair of one-out walks to Brett Bowman and Kruize Wandling. Corey Eberhard pinch ran for Bowman, and both Eberhard and Wandling came homeward on a two-out single by Austin Roush — giving the hosts a 6-3 advantage throuhg six complete.

Roush, who took over in relief during the sixth, left the bases loaded in the seventh to secure the save opportunity — as well as the winning decision for starter Kruize Wandling.

Wandling allowed six hits and three earned runs over five innings of work, issuing five walks while fanning 10. Roush allowed zero hits and walked three while striking out four.

Roush led the offense with two hits and three RBIs, followed by Bowman, Wandling Eastman and Ian Dressel also had a hit apiece.

Wetzel led IHS with two hits, followed by Waginger, White and Williams with a safety each. Pancake took the loss for the guests, allowing five hits, four earned runs and two walks over 5.1 innings of work. Pancake also struck out three.

Gallia Academy 6, Ironton 3

Ironton 101 010 0 — 3 6 4

Gallipolis 020 022 x — 6 6 1

WP — Kruize Wandling; LP — Pancake; S — Austin Roush.

Rebels win fourth straight

MERCERVILLE — South Gallia baseball continued its hot start to the 2009 season on Monday, knocking off previously unbeaten Tolsia by a 2-1 count during a non-conference matchup at Rebel Field.

The Rebels (4-1) won their fourth straight decision and matched last year’s win total in the process, despite committing five errors in the contest. There were only five hits between both teams, with the hosts producing three of those safeties.

Both teams scored once in the first, but the Rebels came up with the eventual game-winning run in the third in a bit of a fundamental fashion.

After Zach Haislop walked to lead off the inning, he stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Corey Haner — with Haislop at third — laid down a safety squeeze bunt, allowing Haislop to score for a 2-1 advantage after three complete.

SGHS starter B.J. Stanley took care of the rest, surrendering just two hits and a walk over seven innings of work to secure the complete-game decision. Stanley also struck out eight and allowed zero earned runs.

Haner, Stanley and Jacob Dotson had the hits for South Gallia. Haner and Stanley also had an RBI each. Mosely took the loss for Tolsia, which fell to 4-1 overall.

South Gallia 2, Tolsia 1

Tolsia 100 000 0 — 1 2 1

S Gallia 101 000 x — 2 3 5

WP — Stanley; LP — Mosely.

Southern mercies Miller

CORNING — The Southern Tornadoes boysí baseball team broke a four game skid by defeating league foe Miller in an 11-0 shut-out Monday night in boys varsity Tri-Valley Conference baseball action. The Tornadoes (5-4) of Coach Ryan Lemley have busy week ahead with a home contest with South Gallia Tuesday and possible back-to-back games with Eastern Wednesday and Thursday.

Southern took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Taylor Deem led off the game with a walk, Michael Manuel singled, and Chris Holter drove home the run with a 6-3 ground out, the score 1-0. Southernís second inning was much more prosperous much to the chagrin of the Falcons. With one out Brad Brown and J.D. Whittington each walked, Greg Jenkins had an RBI single, Michael Manuel walked, Holter was hit with a pitch to bring home a run, and Jordan Taylor had a 4-3 ground-out that resulted in 5-0 Southern lead.

While Michael Manuel was closing the door on the Falcons, Southern flew the coop for 6 more runs and an 11-0 lead in the third. Zach Ash led off with a walk and advanced on a Dustin Salser single. Ash stole third, Brown walked, and Greg Jenkins pounded a two-run double. Deem singled home a run, Manuel walked, Holter walked, and an error that allowed Taylor to reach safely at first brought home another run.

Meanwhile, the Southern defense clamped down to support Manuel in pitching the victory. Manuel went the distance to fan two and walk just one. Millerís Randy Moore suffered the loss with nine walks and four strikeouts.

Southern hitters were Taylor Deem with two singles and a walk, Manuel a single and two walks, Salser a single, and Jenkins a double and single. Miller hitters were Steve Sinift, Greg Estep, and Mike Richardson.

Southern lost 6-5 to Wirt Co. West Virginia last Friday. Southern hitters in that game were Taylor Deem, J.D. Whittington, Jordon Taylor, and Kyle Cunningham.

Southern hosts South Gallia Tuesday at Star Mill Park.

Southern 11, Miller 0

Southern 146 00 — 11 5 2

Miller 000 00 — 0 3 8

WP — Michael Manuel; LP — Randy Moore.

Point Pleasant smacks Poca

POINT PLEASANT — A seven-run first inning ultimately set the tone for the Point Pleasant baseball team Saturday during a 12-2, five-inning victory over visiting Poca in a Cardinal Conference matchup.

The Big Blacks (8-3) pounded out 10 hits overall and never trailed in the contest, establishing a 7-0 cushion after one full inning of play. Both teams managed a run in the third for an 8-1 contest, then the Dots scored their final run in the top of the fourth — pulling the deficit to within six.

But the hosts countered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth — including a three-run walk-off homer by Eric Veith — to wrap up the mercy rule outcome.

Veith led the offensive attack with two hits and five RBIs, followed by Clay Krebs and Tyson Jones with two hits as well. D.W. Herdman, B.J. Lloyd, Titus Russell and Brock McClung also added a safety apiece.

Herdman went the distance for Point on the mound, allowing only six hits and four walks over five innings while striking out seven. Tyler Moore, who lasted only one inning for PHS, was the losing pitcher of record.

PPHS returns to action today when it hosts River Valley in a non-conference matchup at 5 p.m.

Point Pleasant 12, Poca 2

5 innings

Poca 001 10 — 2 6 3

Point 701 04 — 12 10 1

POCA (n/a): Tyler Moore, Daniel Burgess (2) and Alex Staats.

POINT PLEASANT (8-3): D.W. Herdman and B.J. Lloyd.

WP — Herdman; LP — Moore.

HR: Poca — Taylor Humphrey (fourth inning, nobody on); PP — Veith (fifth inning, two on).

Wahama knocks off Meigs

ROCKSPRINGS — A seven run third inning offensive explosion and another strong pitching performance enabled the Wahama White Falcon baseball team to extend its current winning streak to six in a row after the visiting White Falcons soared past Meigs by a 9-4 margin Saturday afternoon.

Wahama banged out four of its 10 hits in the game during its seven run uprising with the Marauders contributing to the Bend Area teams cause with three walks and an error in the frame. The visiting WHS diamond crew also got another big performance on the mound by senior right-hander Jerry Berkley who improved his pitching record to 3-0 on the season. Berkley scattered eight hits while fanning six and walking one in the spring outing.

The win was the sixth in a row for the White Falcons as they increased their 2009 season record to 7-1 on the year. The Mason County teams lone setback on the current campaign came to 2008 Class AA, state runner-up Point Pleasant. The Marauders saw its slate dip to 3-5 on the season following the diamond setback.

Garrett Underwood led Wahama with three base hits on the afternoon while Berkley complimented his pitching achievements with two base knocks at the plate. Zac Warth, William Zuspan, Anthony Bond, Brice Clark and Terry Henry also came up with safeties for WHS. Three of the 10 hits by the White Falcons went for extra bases with Underwood swatting a triple in addition to Berkley and Clark stroking a double each for for Wahama.

Meigs came up with eight hits, all singles, in the contest with four of those coming in the Marauders three run fifth inning. Caleb Davis had a big day at the plate for Meigs with three singles with Austin Sayre collecting a couple of safeties. Clay Bolin, Cam Bolin and Detwiler rounded out the Meigs offense in the diamond contest.

The Marauders plated a run in the second inning to jump out to a 1-0 lead. Davis singled to open the frame and later scored on back-to-back two out singles by Cam Bolin and Austin Sayre.

Wahama answered in the third with a seven run blast as Tyler Roush reached base on an error, Jacob Roach walked and Underwood singled to load the bases with White Falcons. Zac Warth worked his way on by way of another free pass to score Roush and knot the score at 1-1 before William Zuspan singled to chase home two more WHS base runners. Anthony Bond made it a 4-1 contest with a sacrifice fly to center. Jerry Berkley doubled and Brice Clark followed with a two run, two base hit into the gap in left center to make it a 6-1 affair with Clark later scoring the final tally of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Roush.

Meigs closed the gap to 7-4 with a three run fifth after Sayre and Detwiler opened the frame with successive base hits. A fielders choice drove in one Marauder runner with Clay Bolin bringing home another with a single. Bolin later crossed the plate as Davis came up with his third hit of the afternoon to pull the host team to within three at 7-4.

The White Falcons tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the sixth as Underwood tripled to open the frame and Zuspan drew a one-out walk. A single by Bond brought Underwood home with Zuspan later scoring the games final run on an RBI single by Berkley to make the final count 9-4.

Jeffers, the first of three Marauder hurlers in the game, was tagged with the loss with Sayre and Detwiler also working on the mound for Meigs. The trio combined to strike out six while walking seven.

Wahama will resume its 2009 baseball activity on Tuesday when the Bend Area team travels to Wirt County for a 1:00 pm twin bill affair with the Tigers.

Wahama 9, Meigs 4

Wahama 007 002 0 — 9 10 1

Meigs 010 030 0 — 4 8 1



WAHAMA (7-1): Berkley and Underwood.

MEIGS (3-5): Jeffers, Sayre (3), Detwiler (4) and Whitlatch.

WP — Berkley; LP — Jeffers.