Marysville’s Ashton Schmutz (20) slides safely into third during Friday’s game against Olentangy. The Monarchs held a 8-2 lead, but fell to the Braves, 10-8. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Marysville’s varsity baseball team appeared to have a good hold on Olentangy during Friday afternoon’s game.
The Monarchs held an 8-2 advantage after four innings and seemed to be in a pretty comfortable position.
MHS, however, could not that lead and ended up falling to the Braves, 10-8.
The Monarchs (7-11 overall and 2-7 in the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division) took a 2-0 lead in the home half of the second inning.
RJ Thornton drew a one-out walk from Olentangy starter Austin Sizemore.
With two down, MHS pitcher Justin Deardorff legged out a bunt for a hit, putting runners at first and second.
Both scored on Ashton Schmutz’s double.
The Braves tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third.
Brandon Hine led off with a double down the third base line.
After getting a flyball out, Deardorff issued a walk, but then got the second out on a fielder’s choice.
Olentangy got on the scoreboard when Tommy Chilicki, who was perched on third, trotted home on a balk.
Jace Middleton then doubled to tie the contest at two-all.
Marysville (which will travel to Olentangy on Monday) reclaimed a 3-2 edge in the third.
Jack Christian was plunked by one of Sizemore’s pitches.
He later stole second and third.
Sizemore fanned a batter and coaxed a grounder.
Alden Prohaska then doubled Christian home for the one-run advantage.
Things really began to look good for the Monarchs when they piled on five runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Deardorff walked, while Schmutz and Christian Colvin singled to juice the sacks
Christian was once again hit by a pitch to give MHS a 4-2 lead.
Tristan Burns was safe on a fielder’s choice as the Braves got an out at the plate.
Prohaska later drove in two runs with a base hit as the Monarchs’ lead climbed to 6-2.
An Olentangy error loaded the bases with two out.
Chase Storr ripped a bad-hop single past third base that produced two more runs and MHS’ 8-2 advantage.
“We moved the ball well early in the game,” said Monarch head coach Nick Blake. “We had some nice two-out hits.”
Deardorff gave way on the bump to Bailey Wade as MHS held its six-run spread after five innings.
Olentangy threatened in the fifth as a Marysville fielding miscue and two free passes loaded the bases with no outs.
Wade, however, started a double play when he fielded a grounder.
He threw to catcher Burns for the first out at the plate.
Burns, in turn, rifled the ball to Thornton at first to complete the 1-2-3 twin killing.
A grounder got MHS out of the inning with one runner left on base.
The wheels, however, started to come off for the Monarchs in the visitors’ portion of the sixth.
The Braves erupted for six runs, during which time Marysville brought Ethan Bates in to pitch.
Monarch hurlers walked four, surrendered three hits and fell victim to an error as Olentangy was able to tie the game at 8-8.
Deardorff came back in to pitch with two down during the inning.
He got Marysville out of a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout.
Deardorff reached base in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out error.
A strikeout, however, by Olentangy’s third pitcher, Brady Beaumont, ended the inning.
Deardorff hit a batter and gave up a one-out double in the top of the seventh.
Justin DeHoff then became MHS’ fourth pitcher of the day.
He intentionally walked a batter.
That loaded the bases, but also set up a potential out at any base.
The Braves, though, got a two-run single from Grant Schaffer to take a 10-8 margin.
Both runs were charged to Deardorff’s account.
An out was made at third base on the play.
DeHoff got a fly ball to end the inning.
Beaumont then fanned Marysville’s side of the order to end the game.
“We gave up too many free bases on walks,” said Blake. “Olentangy was also able to string together some hits.”
Olen. 002 006 2-10 9 2
MHS 021 500 0-8 7 3
WP-Beaumont
LP-Deardorff