Waterford at Federal Hocking

Story from last night's Waterford at Federal Hocking game. Federal Hocking won 10-1 to clinch at least a share of the TVC-Hocking Division this year. Tonight I get to cover the Duquesne at Ohio baseball game. It's going to be cold, but most likely my last chance to speak to Joe Carbone and the boys as an undergrad.


Lancers clinch share of TVC-Hocking

NICK BROCKMAN
Special to the Messenger

STEWART - Last season the Federal Hocking baseball team ended the season one game shy of the Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division title, but this year the team will share at least a piece of the championship.

The Lancers (15-4, 8-0) defeated the Waterford Wildcats (3-11, 1-6) on Monday night by a score of 10-1 to secure at least a share of the title and remain undefeated in conference play.

After the game Federal Hocking coach Rocky Brunty said he plans to take this year's title outright.

"We can't lose it now," Brunty said. "We can tie. We're certainly not planning on doing that. We want to win out of course."

A nine-run sixth inning propelled the Lancers to victory to separate a 1-1 tie. During the sixth inning 13 Lancer batters came to the plate as Waterford threw three different pitchers.

Federal Hocking had just three hits during the rally, but benefited from three walks, two hit batters, and two errors as well. Lancer Cory McCune had two hits in the inning including a three-run triple that gave his team a 9-1 lead. McCune ended the day 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Brunty, who gave a few of his regular position players the night off, said McCune has been one of his most consistent hitters.

"He's hit the ball real hard," Brunty said. "He's been doing that all year. He's up above .500."

Wildcat coach Jeremy Crock removed starter Aaron Greene during the sixth inning after Greene surrendered a single and back-to-back hit batters with one out.

Greene allowed just one run over his previous five innings, but once Crock noticed his starter begin to struggle he removed him.

"(Greene) just wore down," Crock said. "It's getting to that time in the season where arms are getting tired."

Federal Hocking run-ruled Waterford in the teams' previous match-up. While Waterford may have lost an opportunity to knock off the conference's best team, Crock said he was proud of how his team battled for six innings against Federal Hocking.

"They showed tonight again, they have showed many spurts where they can play ball hard," Crock said, "and play with any team that they want to. They just have to keep that in their head and do their job the rest of the season."

On the mound for the Lancers, pitcher Tyler Thompson relieved Lance Sharp in the fifth inning and earned the win.

Although Brunty said Sharp admitted to his coach he did not have his best stuff, Sharp managed to limit Waterford to a single unearned run in the first inning.

"(Sharp) told me when I went out and talked to him that his ball was dead and he couldn't keep it down, he didn't have anything," Brunty said. "We didn't want to throw Thompson unless we felt we got to the point where we didn't really have a whole lot of choice."

Thompson pitched the final 2 2-3 innings and did not allow a hit; he also struck out five.

Federal Hocking will be back in action on Thursday when the Lancers visit the Trimble Tomcats in search of an outright title.

Waterford 100 000 0 - 1 6 2
Federal Hocking 001 009 X - 10 7 2

Start: 5:20 p.m. End 7:23 p.m.

W (3-11, 1-6): pitchers Aaron Greene, Matt McCutcheon (6), Casey Branham (6), catcher Dennis Jones
FH (15-4, 8-0): pitchers Lance Sharp, Tyler Thompson (5), catcher Dewayne Clark

WP: Thompson LP: Greene