Staff report
MINSTER — The Minster Wildcats led 1-0 all the way to the sixth inning, but that’s when Versailles rallied for two runs and pulled out a 2-1 thriller in Midwest Athletic Conference baseball action Thursday.
The win put Versailles at 7-1 in the league and 15-4 overall. Minster is 4-4 and 13-7.
It was a key win for the Tigers, who remain in a tie for first in the MAC.
Minster was riding the effective pitching of Aaron Ernst, who went the first six innings and allowed just one unearned run.
In the sixth, Kyle Subler singled and stole second, then scored on Brett McEldowney’s base hit. McEldowney moved to second on a grounder, then with two out, a low throw to first on a ground ball to short wound up at the fence and McEldowney raced around to scored the go-ahead run.
McEldowney went all seven for the Tigers and struck out six. Both teams’ pitchers allowed just five hits.
Cole Niekamp had a double for the Tigers, and Jared Huelsman doubled in the last of the seventh for Minster with two outs, putting runners on second and third. But a strikeout ended the game.
The linescore:
Ver.`000 002 0`2`5`2
Min.`010 000 0`1`5`4
McEldowney (WP) and Subler; Ernst (LP), Falk (7) and Stubbs.
Records: Minster 13-7, Versailles 15-4.
——
Anna 10, Houston 0
ANNA — The Anna Rockets went to 9-0 in the County and 17-1-1 overall with a 10-0 run-rule verdict over the Houston Wildcats in County baseball action Thursday.
Houston falls to 12-11.
After a scoreless first inning, Anna put up four in the second, then came back with five in the third.
Aiden Endsley scored three runs for the Rockets, who had just four hits. Nathan Frilling scored twice, drove in two and stole two bases, Kain Luthman and Zach White scored twice, and Colin Wuebker and Zach Watren both drove in two runs.
For Houston, Howie Ludwig was 2 for 2 with a double.
The linescore:
Hou.`000 00`0`2`3
Anna`045 1x`10`4`1
Lindsey (WP) and White; Beaver and Miller.
Records: Anna 17-1-1, Houston 12-11.
——
Russia 16, JC 0
RUSIA — The Russia Raiders scored 12 times in the first two innings and went on to run-rule the Jackson Center Tiger in County baseball action Thursday, 16-0.
The win puts the Raiders at 12-8 on the year. Jackson drops to 2-12.
Russia pitchers Hunter Cohee and Drew Sherman combined on a two-hitter for the Raiders.
Connor Monnin, Jake Gariety, Jonah Counts, Jared Goubeaux and Cohee all had two hits apiece, with Cohee and Monnin both driving in three runs.
Both of Counts’ hits were doubles, and Cohee also had a double. Jacob Francis had a double for the Tigers.
The linescore:
JC`000 001`0`2`4
Rus.`831 3x`16`15`0
Wildermuth (LP), Murphy (2) and Zorn; Cohee (WP), D. Sherman (4) and Goubeaux.
Records: Russia 12-8, JC 2-12.
——
Botkins 10, Fairlawn 1
SIDNEY — Botkins broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth and defeated the Fairlawn Jets 10-1 in County play Thursday.
The Trojans go to 10-10 on the year while Fairlawn drops to 0-17.
Luke Bergman, Erik Greve and Alex Jutte were all 2 for 4 for the Trojans, with one of Jutte’s hits being a triple. Bryce Metz had a double.
For the Jets, RJ Morrison singled and double.
The linescore:
Bot.`103 005 1`10`8`2
Fair.`100 000 0`1`3`3
Liesner (WP), Jutte (7) and Buettner; Noble and Morrison.
Records: Botkins 10-10, Fairlawn 0-17.
——
Xenia 7, Sidney 5
XENIA — Sidney led 4-3 going to the bottom of the fifth when Xenia plated four runs and went on to beat the Jackets 7-5 in action Wednesday.
The loss left Sidney at 7-18 on the season. Xenia is 7-15.
Conor Beer and Damien Duff both had good days at the plate, going 3 for 4, scoring a run and driving in a run. Austin McLain added two hits. Beer and Chris Cantrill both had doubles.
The linescore:
Sid.`301 001 0`5`13`1
Xenia`200 140 x`7`13`2
Records: Sidney 7-18, Xenia 7-15.
——
Riverside 4, USV 2
DEGRAFF — Riverside scored three in the bottom of the sixth to pull out a 4-2 victory over Upper Scioto Valley in Northwest Central Conference play Wednesday.
The Pirates improve to 19-3 on the season, including 11-2 in the NWCC.
The Pirates got two hits from Trey Long, and a double from Caleb Stevens.
Dakota Bollinger went all seven on the mound for the Pirates, allowing five hits and striking out six. He walked three.
The linescore:
USV`100 010 0`2`5`3
Riv.`100 003 x`4`6`1
WP: Bollinger; LP: Lowery
Records: Riverside 19-3, USV 10-9.
