by Gregg Meadows
Fresh off their most successful week in MVL play in recent years, the Scotties started this week off with a Monday night, Apr. 29 five-inning, 10-0 mercy win over visiting Maysville. The win hiked their conference unbeaten mark to 12-0 and overall record to 14-2.
Scottie junior fireballer Brady Kaufman pitched five innings of one-hit, no walks, and eight strike-out baseball to get the win. Kaufman also had two hits in the game with an rbi and run scored, while Ethan McClellan led TV batsmen with three hits, two runs scored and an rbi. Scottie senior first-baseman Kyler Brennen added a pair of doubles with an rbi and two runs scored.
After two years of taking their lumps courtesy of Sheridan’s baseball bunch, Tri-Valley’s Diamond Dawgs finally had an answer for the Generals – and it came in the form of a one-two punch last week.
Coach Marc Hadley’s Scottie charges swept a key two-game, home-away series against the defending league champions – 12-3 at Sheridan on Monday, Apr. 22 – then 24 hours later in Dresden, the black-and-gold gutted out a critical 4-1 victory over the Generals at Kenny Wolford Park to take a two-game hold over first place in the Muskingum Valley League Big School division.
In the Apr. 22 win at Sheridan, the visiting Scotties jumped on the host Generals early, scoring six runs in the first two innings then four more in the fourth on their way to the convincing 12-3 victory.
Tri-Valley banged out 14 hits, and were led by Brady Kaufman who went 4-5 at the plate with a double, rbi, and three runs scored. Ashton Sensibaugh was 3-4 with a double, and crossed home plate three times as well, while Kian Drummonds rapped out three hits and two rbi’s, and Ryan Lamonica added a 2-4 night with a pair of rbi’s for the winners. Kyler Brennen got the job done on the mound, pitching a steady four innings with four strikeouts, with relief help from fellow moundsmen Gavin Harrold and Kade Hindel to finish the job,
Twenty-four hours later back in the friendly confines of Kenny Wolford Park, the Scotties welcomed the Generals to Dresden for ‘Round 2’ with much the same results, as Coach Hadley’s home black-and-gold ‘got ‘er done again’ in a 4-1 win, in what – if Tri-Valley hangs on to win the conference trophy – will be remembered as the title decider.
Scottie standout junior pitcher Brady Kaufman gave a masterful mound performance, overpowering Sheridan batters with 13 strike-outs while scattering five hits and getting backed up by a Scottie defense that bent, but never broke to record the big win.
Kade Hindel led the winners at the plate, going 3-3 with three rbi’s and supplying the biggest hit of the game as well, a bases-loaded fifth-inning double that found the gap in right-center field, scoring Kian Drummonds, Brady Kaufman, and Carter Dinan to give the hosts a 4-0 lead. Scottie centerfielder Nate Better had given the Scotties a 1-0 lead two innings earlier, when he tripled, then scored the game’s first run a Sheridan fielding error.
Kade Hindel took the mound in the seventh inning to relieve Kaufman, facing the Generals in the top of the seventh with a four-run cushion. Hindel gave up two hits and a run but hung tough when it mattered the most, ending the Sheridan rally, as shortstop Brady Kaufman’s two-out put out with two runners aboard was the clincher in the big 4-1 win.
A day later after the big Sheridan sweep, Scottie baseball was at it again, this time hosting John Glenn at Wolford Park on Senior Night, where Tri-Valley recognized and honored their four seniors – Nate Better, Kyler Brennen, Ethan McClellen, and Ashton Senisbaugh – in a well-received pre-game ceremony.
The visiting Muskies proved a formidable foe for Tri-Valley, as the hosts made the most of their just six hits, scoring two runs each in the second and fifth innings, then hanging on for dear life as JG scratched back and eventually scored a run in the top of the seventh inning and had the tying run on base before a ground ball to pitcher Kade Hindel and put out saved the day and kept the black-and-gold unbeaten in MVL play.
Kyler Brennen’s second-inning rbi single brought home Kade Hindel, then Brennen scored on an Ethan McClellan sacrifice. Three innings later Kian Drummonds two-run single brought in Sensibaugh and McClellan for a seemingly safe 4-0 lead. Draven Spinks worked the mound 5.2 innings for the Scotties, giving up five hits and struck out five Muskies, before giving way to Kade Hindel, who got the save for the winners.
Twenty-four hours later there they were again – back on the diamonds – this time at Morgan, where the visiting Scotties rode the strong arm – and bat – of Gavin Harrold, who not only hurled seven complete shut-out innings of one-hit, eight strike-out work, but also went 2-3 at the plate with an rbi in visiting Tri-Valley’s 8-0 victory over the host Raiders. Baiden Everly added a three-run double for the winners, who also got a two-run single from Kian Drummonds and a double from Ryan Lamonica.
On Friday, Apr. 26, TV traveled to Hiland and dropped a 2-0 decision to the host Hawks, despite Kyler Brennen’s six innings of steady work top include seven KO’s.
Coach Logan Scott’s Scottie junior varsity team upped their record to 12-3 on the season with their Monday night, Apr. 29, 20-0 win over host Maysville. Oliver Baker’s triple and Drew Watton’s double and Quinton Warden’s two-hit, three rbi night paced the JV’s in their win, with Isaiah Cullins and Braylon Everly combining pitching talents for the win.
Previous wins in recent TV JV play included an Apr. 25, 15-12 win at home vs Morgan where Quinton Hindel, Blayne Riley, and Braylon Everly led the winners with multiple hit nights, then a big 7-2 win on Wednesday night, Apr. 24 at John Glenn that had Casen Baker going 3-3 with two runs scored and Isaiah Cullins smashing a go-ahead two-run homer over the left field fence for the winners who saw Everly throw six strong innings with 3 KO’s. The Scottie JVs were not as fortunate last week vs Sheridan as the varsity, dropping consecutive 14-8, then 9-6 home/away losses to the Generals, but did see junior varsity batsmen Drew Watton, Quinton Hindel, Oliver Baker, Quinton Warden and Jaxson Better have multiple hits in the setbacks.
