Belpre at Federal Hocking

Here's my story of the Belpre at Federal Hocking baseball game from last night. I also did a version for the Parkersburg News-Sentinel, but I doubt I will be about to put that one up as well because they are always terrible about putting my articles up on their website. Anyways, here is the Messenger version of the game's events.


Lancers take down Eagles

NICK BROCKMAN

Special to The Messenger

STEWART - Federal Hocking may not have played its best game on Tuesday night, but the Lancers did just enough to defeat the Belpre Golden Eagles during a game that featured 17 walks.

Despite leaving 11 runners on base the Lancers combined seven timely hits with 11 walks to defeat the Golden Eagles 12-7 in Tri-Valley Conference play.

"It was long and disgusting and I dont like these kinds of games at all," FHHS coach Rocky Brunty said.

In fact the game was tied 2-2 through three full innings and Belpre boasted the games only hit.Federal Hocking appeared to be off to a quick start during the first inning when the first three batters reached base via walks. After the second walk of the inning, Belpre coach Terry Mullen removed starter Sean Haverty in favor of reliever Mike Waderker. Waderker walked the first batter he saw, but retired the next three. The Lancers scored just one run on a Jared Gandee sacrifice fly.

Mullen said that Haverty had not pitched for Belpre this season and because the team has played so many games this week his teams pitching corps was stretched thin.

While Belpre escaped the first Lancer rally, the fourth inning proved to be the difference as Federal Hocking pulled away with seven runs on three hits.

During the fourth inning the Lancers sent 13 batters to the plate. Zach Burke provided the ultimate winnings runs when he finished the innings scoring on a two-run single to right field.

Belpre responded in the top half of the fifth inning with three runs to cut the deficit to 9-5. Later, the Golden Eagles came as close as 11-7 entering the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Lancers scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning and Burke took the mound in the seventh inning to close things out. Burke struck out two batters and allowed just one base runner to seal the Federal Hocking win.

After the game Brunty said he is impressed with Burkes progress after he played third, pitched, and recorded two hits during the game.

"He stepped up a lot from last year," Brunty said. "He keeps getting better and getting better and getting better. Thats what you ask out of your players, to keep improving. His bat has come a long way this year."

While Federal Hocking managed to defeat Belpre, the team that has defeated the Lancers in back-to-back years in the Division-III sectional championship, Brunty said much improvement is still needed.

"It's not one of those pretty wins that you are real happy and tickled about," he said. "We've got some issues and some things we have to work on and well get better."

B 002 032 0 - 7 6 1
FH 101 721 X - 12 7 0

B (4-4, 2-2): Sean Haverty, Mike Waderker (1), Tyler Watkins (4), R.J. Walker (6) and Mark Tate

FH (5-2, 3-0): Jared Gandee, Tyler Thompson, Zach Burke and Dewayne Clark

Start: 5:08 End: 7:30

WP: Gandee LP: Waderker