Staff report
HOUSTON — The Botkins Trojans took advantage of free passes in the first inning to stun the Houston Wildcats with 11 runs, going on to post a mild upset in Division 4 Sectional baseball action Monday night, 13-2.
The win puts the Trojans at 12-10 on the season and matches them up with top-seeded Lehman today at Lehman at 5 p.m.
Houston falls to 13-12.
Houston started ace Zach Jolly Monday, but he had trouble finding the plate and lasted just two-thirds of an inning. By the time the first half-inning was over, Houston had issued four walks and hit two other batters, leading to an explosion of runs by the Trojans.
Houston got one in the first but Botkins tacked on two more in the third and the game eventually ended after five innings.
Luke Bergman had two hits and scored three times to lead the Trojans. Todd Tschuor was 3 for 4 with a double, and both Erik Greve and Spencer Heuker added doubles.
For Houston, Isaiah Beaver was 3-for 3 with a double.
Alex Jutte went all five for the Trojans a tossed a five-hitter.
The linescore:
Bot.`(11)02 00`13`9`1
Hou.`100 01`2`5`3
Jutte (WP) and Buettner; Jolly (LP), I. Beaver (1) and Miller.
Records: Houston 13-12, Botkins 12-10.
Botkins’ next tournament game: Today, sectional semifinals at Lehman, 5 p.m.
——
Covington 15, JC 5
COVINGTON — No. 10 seed Jackson Center jumped on seventh-seeded Covington for four runs in the first two innings, but as the game wore on, the Buccaneers pulled away to a 15-5 verdict in five innings in D-4 Sectional play Monday at Covington.
The loss left Jackson Center at 2-14 on the year.
Jackson led 4-0 after batting in the second, but Covington came back to lead 5-4. The Tigers scored to knot the game up at 5-5, but Covington scored seven times in the third to put it away.
Colton Rose had a double for Jackson Center.
——
Regular season
Riverside 5, Bellefontaine 2
BELLEFONTAINE — The Riverside Pirates scored three times in the top of the eighth to pull out a 5-2 win over Bellefontaine in non-league action Monday at Bellefontaine.
The win puts the Pirates at 20-6 on the year heading into a tough tournament opener today at home against Russia.
Logan Stobbe had three hits for the Pirates, one being a triple, and Caleb Stevens added two hits. Stobbe also drove in three runs.
The linescore:
Riv.`001 010 03`5`6`2
Bel.`110 000 00`2`5`2
WP: Kelsey; LP: Braun
Records: Riverside 20-6, Bellefontaine 19-7.
