Raiders sweep district series

For Daily Times Leader

“Tense.”

Oak Hill head baseball coach John Siary used just one word to describe the bottom of the seventh inning in the second game of a doubleheader in which his Raiders were able to pull out a 5-4 victory.

By also winning the first game and finishing off the sweep on Thursday night, the Raiders improved their records to 6-5 overall and 5-0 in Class 5A-District 1.

Starting on the mound in game two for Oak Hill was senior John Ross Craven. Craven earned a quality start by throwing six complete innings and allowing three runs, only two of which were earned. The senior also struck out five batters while allowing six base on balls.

Both teams came out quickly again, with both seeing runs scored in the first inning, but the Raiders were able to bring home four in the first two innings compared to North Delta's single run in the first.

The third, fourth, and fifth innings all featured a scoring drought before North Delta was able to score two in the top of the sixth to bring the score to 4-3, still in favor of the Raiders. A fatigued Craven was able to get the first out of the inning smoothly, but a subsequent single, walk, and hit batsman loaded the bases.

The fifth batter of the inning watched four pitches before sending a slow roller straight back to Craven, who was able to get the force out at home to prevent a run from scoring, but during the next at-bat, the Green Wave shortstop sent one back up the middle past Craven to bring around the two runs of the half inning.

During the bottom half of the sixth, the Raiders were able to put a man in scoring position with two outs, but were unable to capitalize.

With just three outs left to work with, North Delta was set to see a new face on the mound. Coming in from second base was Colin Boyd. The first batter Boyd saw was hit by a pitch, and during the next at-bat, advanced to second on a wild pitch. Unfazed by this, Boyd still managed to strike out the following two batters.

The fourth batter of the inning was able to send a pitch back on a fly ball to center field, earning a single.

Centerfielder Brian Buchanan fielded the hit and launched the ball back to home, trying to gun the man on second who rounded third after contact and headed for the plate. The ball reached home plate in time for a toss up play, but the umpire ruled in favor of the Green Wave, evening the score at 4-4.

After the 50/50 call, Boyd was able to get ahead in the count and send the final batter of the inning back to the dugout after a fly out to left field, taking the game to the bottom of the seventh.

“We had the part of the lineup we wanted,” Siary said after the game, referring to going into the bottom of the inning with his two, three, and four hitters set to have at least one more plate appearance.

He had a task ahead of him which is the make or break point for most head coaches – a situation where everyone is on edge and a little mistake can snowball into a result that leaves you wondering, “What if?”

The head coach reminded his guys that they had the pieces they needed to win, they just needed to “play small ball” to get there.

The Raiders trusted their coach, and the leadoff hitter, Joshua Tew was able to work the count full before being hit by a pitch. The next man up was John Lewis, who wasted no time and singled to right field on the first pitch, sending Tew to third.

Having second base open, the North Delta pitcher held up four fingers, intentionally walking Boyd, who had just come off the mound.

With the bases loaded and no outs, five-hole hitter Craven came up to bat. The first two pitches were fouls for strikes, then the third pitch became contact between the lines. Green Wave shortstop fielded the ball, but it was too late and Tew had come home to score the final run.

The Raiders had done what they set out to do, play small ball, and it worked. The home team was able to win the second game in a walk-off fashion and sweep the doubleheader.

Taking the mound in game one for the Raiders was senior Ty Harden.

The senior threw five innings while also taking on the role of designated hitter. On the bump, Harden allowed just five hits, two runs, three walks, and five strikeouts.

During the first inning, Harden faced some issues as the Green Wave were able to accrue three of their six total hits that game, plating their only earned run.

Oak Hill was quick to respond though, as a walk to senior Brian Buchanan led to a stolen base and a runner in scoring position before the second out of the inning. Kevin Hill, the starter for North Delta, proceeded to strike out one batter before walking another and with two outs, Craven singled to right field to score Buchanan.

The only other run for the Green Wave during the game came in the third inning. The North Delta two-hole hitter grounded a ball to Raider infield, but a fielding error allowed him to reach safely. A subsequent single and sacrifice bunt allowed the Green Wave baserunner to reach third, and he eventually scored on a passed ball with two outs.

Again, Oak Hill was able to respond in the bottom of the inning. Buchanan singled to right field, stole second, and came in to score after Boyd also singled to right.

The Raiders were able to take the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth when they plated four runs on three hits and two errors.

Aided by two innings of relief by senior John Lewis, the varsity Raiders squad was able to close the game out.

Game three of the series on the road was the most impressive of all for the Raiders.

Craven was bad news for opposing pitchers on Thursday, driving in four on three hits to lead Oak Hill. Craven drove in runs on a double in the first, a double in the third, and a single in the fourth.

In the first inning, the Raiders got their offense started when Boyd doubled on a 2-0 count, scoring one run.

Oak Hill notched five runs in the fourth inning. Craven, Ty Hardin, Jacob Mobley, and Gunter Reed all contributed in the big inning with RBI.

Reed led things off on the pitcher's mound for the Raiders. The ace surrendered three runs on three hits over 4.2 innings, striking out one.

Oak Hill tallied 13 hits. Craven, Josh Tew, Smith Chaney, J L Lewis, and Boyd all collected multiple hits for the Raiders.

The next district series for Oak Hill will be against Marshall Academy next week. After visiting Marshall for the doubleheader on Tuesday, the Raiders will host the third game on Thursday in West Point.