By Jack Witthaus
Prep Baseball Report Writer

Holcomb allows one hit, loses 5-1 to Hartville—In the Class Two Semifinal, six runs were scored, but not a single run was earned. 

Hartville won the fielding-impoverished game, scoring five runs in the fifth and sixth innings on two errors and a single. 

The Eagles snagged the lead in the fifth. Seth Hensley started the bottom of the frame off after getting hit by a pitch. Then, Kevin Prock walked and Tyler Collison reached on a fielder’s choice. With two men on, an error by way of Holcomb’s second baseman scored Prock and Collison to make the score, 2-1. 

In the next inning, an error in right field helped score starting pitcher AJ Buford and Drew Ince, who consecutively walked to reach base. Hunter Simmons dropped a single, Hartville’s lone hit of the day, to score a run and advance the lead, 5-1. 

Buford worked 6.2 innings, and witnessed Holcomb’s only run after the Hornets’ Dustin Houart reached on a single, stole second, and promptly reached home on two passed balls. 

Holcomb’s starter Houart threw five innings in the loss.

 

West Platte bests Canton, 5-1—Logan Moose went the distance for West Platte as the Blue Jays handily beat Canton. 

Moose, who missed his junior year due to a thumb injury, struck out 10 batters in the seven-inning effort, giving up four walks and scattering seven hits. 

The senior also helped himself at the plate, going two for three with two runs scored. 

West Platte dismantled Canton starter Austin Hoewing, who was handed the loss after pitching 5.1 innings and giving up four earned runs. 

Right away, the Blue Jays wasted no time, tagging Hoewing for two runs after Matt Heili walked to start the inning and Logan Moose singled. Dylan Guthrie plated the first run on a sacrifice fly to right field and then Moose scored on a passed ball. 

In the third, West Platte used the Heili-Moose combination again to reach base. This time, Jared Meyer doubled to deep center, scoring the No. 1 and No. 2 batters. 

Heili went one for two on the day, scoring two runs and stealing a base. 

Finally, in the sixth, West Platte ended their tallying when Ben Heili walked home a run with the bases loaded. 

Canton only mustered a run in the third off Moose when Skyler Bronestine singled and reached second on a sacrifice. Promptly Tyler Niemann doubled down the right field line to score Bronestine. 

The third frame was the only inning Canton strung together two consecutive hits. 

Hartville and West Platte will vie for the State title tomorrow at 1 p.m. against West Platte.