Michael Bonczak of MHS slides into second before the tag on a stolen base Wednesday. The Monarchs fell to Dublin Coffman, 1-0.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
––––
A high school baseball coach can’t ask for a much better pitching performance than what Trey Storr gave the Marysville Monarchs on Wednesday.
Storr limited Dublin Coffman to only five hits and walked just two during a home rematch from Monday’s MHS triumph on the Shamrocks’ diamond.
This time, though, the Rocks got revenge with a 1-0 victory.
“Trey did what he always does,” said Monarch boss Nick Blake. “He threw strikes, just like he’s done all year.
“That’s all we can ask of the guy who is on the bump.”
Storr felt it was the best game he’s pitched all season.
“My change-up kept them off-balance,” he said. “I also used my two-seam fastball and a curve on occasion.”
Storr, though, was not able to get much in the way of offensive help from his teammates as MHS dropped the game that lasted slightly less than 90 minutes.
The loss was Marysville’s first Ohio Capital Conference Central Division setback (against five victories) of the season.
The Monarchs also rapped five hits, but sent a lot of balls into the air.
Those offerings were held up by a stiff wind that gave Coffman’s fielders time to make outs.
“We had too many shots like that,” said Blake. “I’ve got to do a better job of stressing the fact we need line drives.”
Storr, a right-handed hurler, was locked in a pitcher’s duel all evening with Shamrock southpaw Luke Bartemes.
Both struck out one and Bartemes did not walk a batter.
Marysville (9-6 overall) got runners on board in the home half of the second inning when Blake Storr and Gabe Schaeffer ripped back-to-back singles.
A pair of fly balls and a popup, though, ended the frame.
The Shamrocks scored the game’s lone run in the top of the third.
Trey Storr struck out Coffman’s first batter, but gave up a single to Ethan Hetzel.
He advanced to second on a wild pitch and swiped third.
Storr issued a walk to Jaiden Proper, giving the Shamrocks runners on the corners with one down.
Alex Dluzynski put down a squeeze bunt as Hetzel broke toward home.
The throw from the infield was not in time to get him at the plate.
Storr prevented further damage, however, by coaxing a ground ball and a fly ball to end the inning with Dublin Coffman up 1-0.
MHS got a runner as far as third base in the bottom of the frame.
Michael Bonczak singled, stole second and went to third on a fielding miscue.
A popup and a strikeout, though, left him stranded there.
Neither team did much with the sticks during the fourth inning.
Storr then got out of a huge jam in the visitors’ portion of the fifth.
Bryce Hostetler reached base for the Shamrocks on an error and was lifted for pinch runner Michael Dennis.
MHS got the first out of the inning when catcher Chase Kilgore gunned Dennis down at second on a steal attempt.
It was the second runner that Kilgore wiped off the bases.
Kilgore’s cannon arm was fortunate for the Monarchs as Hetzel followed with a double.
He went to third when Proper legged out a bunt hit.
Storr loaded the bases when he issued his second walk.
The tension mounted when Coffman’s Spencer Eiselt grounded the ball to Jack Christian at third.
Christian prevented another run when he rifled the ball to Kilgore for the force out at home.
Storr then induced a groundball out by Bartemes to escape what could have been big trouble.
Both teams went down without much difficulty through the top of the seventh.
The Monarchs, though, threatened during their final at-bat.
Schaeffer reached on an error, but was wiped out at second when Matt Belt was safe at first on a fielder’s choice.
Pinch runner Jake Carper took over for Belt and moved the potential tying run to second on a wild pitch.
Bartemes, though, got a pop up and fly ball to end the game for the Monarchs, who will return to action Monday at home against Upper Arlington.
DC 001 000 0-1 5 2
MHS 000 000 0-0 5 1
WP: Bartemes
LP: T. Storr
...For the full story, select an option below.