by Dan Timmerman and Tom Sackett,
The Loveland Tigers lost to the Mason Comets in the sectional finals Thursday by a score of 6-0.
A much closer game than the final score would indicate. The game featured an intriguing subplot with the starting pitching match-up of North Carolina signee Rodney Hutchinson going for Mason against Loveland ace and Georgia Tech commit Jay Wilson for the Tigers. But the Tigers were dealt an early blow when Wilson, who is also the 3 hole hitter for the Tigers, had to be taken out of the game with an elbow injury in the bottom of the 1st, only 4 pitches into the game. Trent Spikes, who has arguably been Loveland’s best statistical pitcher this year, received the early relief call and held the Comets in check through 5 innings with the help from the Tiger defense. However the game’s runs all came in the Mason 6th highlighted by a successful suicide squeeze bunt with the bases loaded and a two out three run double that effectively put the game out of reach.
Meanwhile Mason pitcher Rodney Hutchinson was masterful in a complete game shutout yielding only 3 hits without a walk in what was the best pitching performance the Tigers faced all year.
Hitting: Waddell 1-3; Beran 1-3; Lakes 1-3, 2B
This marked the final game for Loveland seniors Jacob Albin, Lucas Bashardoust, Adam Beran, Josh Meszaros, Zach Roberts, Chris Sackett and Jacob Timmerman who lead the 2015 squad to an outstanding 23-7 record.
The Tigers look toward the 2016 season with a strong nucleus featuring 6 returning starters including 3 of their top pitchers and 3 of their top hitters from the 2015 roster.
