by Dan Timmerman and Tom Sackett,
Game 15 – Thursday April 23 Loveland at Hamilton HS
The Loveland Tigers traveled to Hamilton Thursday to play a non-league game against the Big Blue after a week of rainouts and reschedules which have apparently resulted in the forfeiture by Withrow- unable to field a team- of the 2 conference games which were to be played this week.
The Big Blue got off to a quick start in the 1st on two hits after runners reached on a HPB and an error. The Tigers got one of those runs back in their next turn when Adam Beran reached base on an infield single and was brought home on a triple by Josh Meszaros. Loveland took their first lead in the 4th with a 2 out rally beginning with a single by Chris Sackett followed by back to back RBI doubles from Beran and Meszaros to go up 3-2. Hamilton answered in their half of the inning knotting the contest at 3 on 2 doubles of their own. Hamilton retook the lead in the 5th on a BB followed by a double and a single to go up 4-3.
The Tigers came storming back in the 6th putting runners at 1st and 2nd on a HBP to Jay Wilson and a single by Colton Lakes. Sackett put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to put runners at 2nd and 3rd. After Beran walked to load the bases Meszaros hit a sacrifice fly to score Wilson. Pinch hitter Cade Woolston then delivered with a sharp single to left to score Lakes for a 5-4 lead. In the 7th Loveland finished the scoring when Luke Waddell walked and then stole 2nd and 3rd and was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Lakes.
Drew Steinbrunner was the starting pitcher going 4 innings followed by Chris Dombroski, Jake Albin (W, 1-1) and Jacob Timmerman, with Trent Spikes getting the last 2 outs for a save.
With the win at Hamilton and the 2 forfeits by Withrow, Loveland’s record improves to 11-4 overall, 5-3 in the ECC.
Pitching: Steinbrunner 4 IP, Dombroski 1/3 IP, Albin (W, 1-1) 2/3 IP, Timmerman 1-1/3 IP, Spikes (SV, 1) 2/3 IP. Hitting: Meszaros 2-2, 2B, 3B, SF, 3 RBI; Lakes 2-3, 3B, R, RBI; Beran 2-3, 2B, 2 R; Sackett 1-2, BB, SB, R; Woolston 1-1, RBI; Waddell R; Wilson R.
Game 16 – Friday April 24 Loveland at Kings HS
The Loveland Tigers played at Kings Friday and came home with a 5-1 victory over the Knights.
Loveland got going in the 2nd scoring 2 runs on a single by Chris Sackett and a single Josh Meszaros. Drew Steinbrunner then reached on an error to load the bases and Cade Woolston singled scoring Sackett and Meszaros.
In the 3rd Kings scored their run on a lead-off double which went through the infield and down the right field line. A sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly later and Kings had narrowed the score to 2-1.
In the 4th Colton Lakes led off the inning with a double, advancing to 3rd on an error when the incoming throw got away from the covering infielder at second. Sackett then hit a fly ball which scored the tagging Lakes. In the 5th the Tigers completed the scoring on a walk to Steinbrunner and a Woolston single followed by an RBI single by Luke Waddell scoring Steinbrunner. Cal Conley then hit a sacrifice fly to score Woolston.
Jay Wilson(W) pitched a complete game for the Tigers yielding only 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 4.
Loveland is now 6-3 in the ECC, 12-4 overall.
Pitching: Wilson W, 2-1. Hitting: Woolston 2-3, R, 2 RBI; Lakes 2B; Meszaros 1-3, R; Sackett 1-2, R, RBI; Waddell 1-4, RBI; Conley SF, RBI.
