Fort Frye at Federal Hocking

Here's my story from last night's game. My fourth story in four days.


Thompson solid in Lancers' 6-1 win

NICK BROCKMAN

Special to The Messenger

STEWART - It took just one night for coach Rocky Brunty's Federal Hocking Lancers to turn a sloppy win into a good-looking, all-around victory.

Federal Hocking played well in all phases of the game to defeat the Fort Frye Cadets 6-1 on Wednesday night.

Brunty, who said on Tuesday he was unhappy with the way his team won, said after Wednesday's game he was especially proud of pitcher Tyler Thompson and the defense.

"The kids played well today," Brunty said. "Overall, they played a nice game. Thompson threw another nice game, that's two in a row for him. The defense was solid behind and that's all you expect."

Runs were hard to come by for either team and Thompson did his job to ensure it was harder for the Cadets. Thompson allowed a single run in the first inning and shutdown the opposition the rest of the way.

Thompson finished the game with seven strikeouts and three hits, Brunty said it was Thompson's ability to let the defense work behind him that impressed him most.

"That's what a good pitcher does," Brunty said. "A good pitcher keeps them off-balance and throws strikes and let everybody else do their job."

Fort Frye head coach Sonny Bidwell, however, said the Cadets' demise came because they could not get lead runners on base.

"(Thompson) threw a nice game," Bidwell said. "We didn't have our best hitting night, but you have to get the first leadoff guys on in the inning and we didn't do that."

While Thompson and his Lancer defense did its job the Federal Hocking offense scored three runs in its first at-bat to move ahead 3-1. The first-inning runs proved to be the difference, but the Lancers added two more runs in the fifth inning and a single tally in the sixth inning.

Seven of the Lancers' nine batters recorded a hit during the game, but Federal Hocking's No. 3, 4, and 5 hitters (Cory McCune, Jared Gandee, and Thompson) provided the bulk of the damage. The three hitters combined to knock in four runs in the victory. With two singles, catcher Dewayne Clark also posted the only multi-hit and multi-run scored game for either team.

After the game Brunty said it was a great team win, but he hopes it can help his players understand that although it's a non-league game it could have big effects.

"They were 6-1 coming in, a nice team," Brunty said. "Definitely, it was a big win for us. It was an important win. It gives these guys a little more confidence and realize they can play with the top teams in the area."

FF 100 000 0 - 1 3 1
FH 300 021 X - 6 8 1

FF (6-2): pitchers Josiah Fryman, Chad Stengel (2), Jacob Anderson (5), catcher Mason Lang
FH (6-2): pitcher Tyler Thompson, catcher Dewayne Clark

Start: 5:08 End: 6:45

WP: Thompson LP: Fryman