McNew walk-off homer completes Raider comeback
BETH SCHMALTZ
South Ripley junior Mason McNew is greeted at home plate after hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning on Monday to beat Jac-Cen-Del in an ORVC baseball showdown.
It was his only hit of the night but it sure did prove to be a big one as junior Mason McNew’s two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted South Ripley to a big 10-9 win at home over Jac-Cen-Del on Monday.
The home run by McNew completed a Raider comeback that had started back in the fifth inning. South Ripley and Jac-Cen-Del are now tied for fourth place in the Ohio River Valley Conference standings.
For the first four innings Jac-Cen-Del seemed to be in control, even after giving up three Raider runs in the bottom of the third. Leading just 4-3, the Eagles went off for a quartet of runs in the top of the fourth to get in front 8-3 but that’s when the comeback trail began for the green and white.
South Ripley’s three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and two runs in the bottom of the sixth tied the game. Jac-Cen-Del put itself in the driver’s seat with a run in the top of the seventh but that came crashing down with McNew’s heroics.
McNew’s home run, two RBI and two runs scored paired with sophomore Ethan Schmaltz’s 3-for-4 evening which included a pair of triples, three RBI and two runs. Trevor Castner doubled and drove in three runs, Brogan Buchanan doubled and scored two runs and Trenton Smith put together a single and run for the Raiders. Austin Hodge reached based twice for South Ripley and scored two runs and Brady Ruble was credited with a run and RBI.
Freshman Parker Pindell led Jac-Cen-Del, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run. Neil Sullivan hit two doubles, scored twice and had two RBI. Blake Wagner put together three RBI on a base hit, Will Meyer was 1-for-4 with a run and RBI and both Sam Johnson and Dylan Ricke had a hit with Ricke also scoring a run. Dawson Ricke, Eli Rowland, Brody Huff and Keagan Williamson scored a run apiece for the Eagles.
Castner got the pitching win for South Ripley after appearing in the seventh inning. He gave up an unearned run and walked two. Braxton Wilson started the game, throwing six innings and allowing eight runs -six earned- on 10 hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Wagner pitched a complete game, giving Jac-Cen-Del six full innings before being forced to take a loss. The sophomore allowed 10 runs -seven earned- on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
South Ripley (6-5, 4-4 ORVC) was at Milan on Wednesday and hosts Southwestern (Hanover) on Friday, both of which are conference games. The Raiders visit potential Class 2A Sectional 45 foe Brownstown Central on Saturday.
Jac-Cen-Del (9-5, 4-4 ORVC) hosted Edinburgh on Wednesday, is home against Milan on Friday for an ORVC game and then plays a conference contest on Saturday at Switzerland County.
