Marysville’s Griffin Scheiderer slides into third base with a triple against Olentangy Berlin. The Monarchs dropped the game, 11-4.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
—
A battle between high school baseball teams with identical 8-2 records remained close through the first five innings Monday afternoon.
Olentangy Berlin held a 4-3 edge over Marysville as play moved into the visitors’ portion of the sixth.
The Bears plated seven runs over the final two innings en route to an 11-4 triumph.
“I don’t think the game was as lopsided as the final score indicates,” said MHS head coach Nick Blake. “We had additional scoring opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize.”
MHS stranded seven runners on base.
Berlin took a 3-0 lead in the top of the initial inning against Monarch starting pitcher Tate Martino.
The MHS lefty walked three of the first five batters he faced to load the bases.
The first Bear run raced home on a wild pitch.
A single from Maddox Pulliman drove in two runs.
The Monarchs responded with single scores in the home half of the second and third off Berlin hurler Nick Gemienhardt.
A pair of fielding miscues by the Bears brought in MHS’ run in the second frame.
The Monarchs pulled to within 3-2 in the third.
Griffin Scheiderer ripped a lead-off triple to right field and later scored on Jake Fisher’s sacrifice fly.
Both teams tallied a run in the fourth.
James Hackworth went to the bump with one down for Marysville in that inning.
A walk, stolen base and error gave the visitors a 4-2 margin.
Damon Wade was hit by a pitch to lead off MHS’ portion of the fourth.
Max Freeman and Mason Springs stroked back-to-back singles to juice the sacks.
A base hit from Rocco Marchetti resulted in the RBI that narrowed the Monarchs’ deficit to 4-3.
The wheels began to fall off for Marysville after a scoreless fifth inning.
The Bears plated four runs off Hackworth in the top of the sixth.
Ascher Dent drilled a two-run homer as part of Berlin’s offensive output.
Gemienhardt kept the Monarchs off the scoreboard in the home half of the sixth.
Luke Bankes was summoned from the bullpen as MHS’ third pitcher of the day in the seventh.
Base hits from Alejandro Aguilar and Daniel Barreca drove in runs for the Bears.
A sacrifice fly from Parker McDaniels tacked on Berlin’s final score.
Marysville plated a consolation run during the bottom of the seventh.
Canyon Gladstone was plunked by a pitch and Griffin Michael drew a walk from Gemienhardt.
Lucas Patrick came on in relief and notched two outs.
Braiden McMahan singled to drive in MHS’ fourth run.
Patrick put a strikeout in the book to end the game.
The Monarchs managed only seven hits and committed four errors.
Martino, Hackworth and Bankes combined to surrender 10 hits. Between them, the pitchers issued seven walks and hit a couple of batters.
“We made it tough for ourselves in all phases of the game,” said Blake as his squad slipped to 8-3 for the season. “It was a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
“It’s better to make those types of mistakes during a game in April than in a game in May,” the coach said. “We will address those situations and correct them.”
OB 300 104 3-11 10 2
MHS 011 100 1-4 7 3
WP: Gemienhardt
LP: Martino