Trojans collect first win over New Knoxville
BOTKINS — The familiar combination of timely hitting and solid pitching led Botkins to its first victory of the season.
The Trojans defeated visiting New Knoxville 6-1 on Friday in a non league matchup at Botkins Community Park.
Botkins got one run early, then tacked on two in the third and another pair in the fifth. Each scored a run in the sixth before Botkins wrapped it up.
Parker Geis started for Botkins. He pitched three innings, allowing two hits. He struck out seven.
Adam Hall then worked the middle three innings, allowing one run, which came as the result of a fielding error. He walked two and struck out one. Finishing things up was Isaac Cisco, who pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.
“Our defense and pitching were solid.
That’s our calling card,” said Botkins coach Jason Jones. “Once they went to their bullpen, it was easier for our hitters.”
Geis had two hits, and reached on a walk and was hit, and scored all four times. Cisco and Ethan Motter had a single and a walk each.
For the Rangers, Brandon Smith started
and took the loss. He threw four innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out five.
Josh Deitsch faced four batters in the fifth, walking three and being charged with two runs. Jay Waterman then finished up. He gave up a run, while walking three and hitting one
batter. Deitsch struck out one and Waterman two.
Coach Kyle Merges said mental errors cost the Rangers both while batting and on defense. “We gave the game away,” he said.
After a strikeout by Geis to open the contest, Patrick Covert reached on a bunt single, then stole second. Smith got aboard when the first baseman could not hang on to the ball for the out. Covert moved to third on the play, and Smith then took second to put two runners in scoring position.
However, Geis settled down and got two strikeouts to escape unharmed.
He then led off the Trojans lineup and sent a ball that got just over the left fielder’s leaping attempt at a catch. Isaac Cisco followed with a hit, also going to left, and Geis came around to make it 1-0.
Cisco would take second on a wild pitch and then stole third, but was left aboard.
Geis struck out the side in the top of the second, and Smith got a groundout and two Ks in the bottom half.
Grant Temple singled to shallow center to start the Rangers third. Luke Stachler then popped up a bunt attempt, but it landed a few feet from the plate just in fair territory, and he was able to reach safely.
Covert was next. He swung and missed at strike three, with the Botkins catcher dropping the ball. Covert was ruled out because first base was occupied. However, both Rangers runners tried to advance.
Temple was tagged out between second and third. Stachler, standing on second, tried to get back to first, and was eventually tagged out by Geis. The end result was a very unusual triple play in which every infielder handled the ball at least once.
Botkins’ Brant Metz proved the bottom of the lineup was dangerous as well, sending a single down the line in left, Geis moved him over to third with a single to right.
After Geis stole second, a wild pitch allowed Metz to score and Geis to move up to third. Ethan Motter then singled to left to score Geis and make it 3-0.
Hall took over mound duties to start the fourth. He hit the first batter he faced, but then got a flyout and two grounders. Botkins left one aboard in the bottom half.
After a 1-2-3 fifth for the Rangers, New
Knoxville put Deitsch on the rubber. He walked Geis, who then stole second and third on consecutive pitches. Cisco also walked, and then took off and swiped second as well.
After a strikeout, a walk to Tyler Free filled the bags, and the Rangers went to lefthander freshman Waterman. Brandt Boerger got a free pass as well, this one adding a run for Botkins.
He got the second out on a strikeout, but then issued a walk to Preston Free, forcing in Cisco with run number five. Hall hit a sinking ball to center, but it stayed up long enough to be caught.
Hall walked Stachler to again give New Knoxville a runner early on. He stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Smith hit a grounder to second, which was not handled cleanly. That permitted Smith to get to first, as well as Stachler to cross home and break up the shutout bid.
Botkins would then get out of the inning without further damage, now leading 5-1.
With one away, Geis was hit by a pitch, against stole second and third. When he went to third, the throw from the catcher sailed into left field, and Geis put the final Trojans run on the board. A strikeout and fielder’s choice kept it a five-run lead.
Cisco then came in for the seventh. He got the first batter on a popup to short, then induced a grounder to first and another to short, which was relayed in time for the final out.
Botkins (0-1 SCAL, 1-2 overall) will host Waynesfield-goshen today for a doubleheader. The first game will start at 11 a.m.
New Knoxville will be in action as well, as they will travel to Jackson Center for a game at 11 a.m.