Raider boys show off new field in win
PHOTO BY BETH SCHMALTZ
South Ripley junior Austin Hodge earned a win on the mound on Thursday against South Decatur. Hodge gave up just one hit in a three-inning relief appearance. See full story on page 5.
South Ripley baseball showcased its newly renovated Forest G. Waters Field for the first time on Thursday night and christened it in exciting fashion, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat South Decatur by a 6-5 final score.
The Raiders have won three games in a row to start the season. That includes an 18-2 drilling of Waldron at home on Friday night.
With artificial turf on the ground and plenty of new features at the hallowed grounds in Versailles, Thursday night’s game saw the Raiders battle back from a 5-0 deficit after South Decatur (3-3) built that margin up through the first four innings. South Ripley finally fired up its offense late and scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, a run in the bottom of the sixth and then the two runs that tied and won the game in the seventh.
Senior Mason McNew belted a home run, hit a single and doubled for the Raiders, driving in two runs in the process with a run scored. Trevor Castner went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored and Ethan Schmaltz scored and drove in a run on a hit. Freshman Shawn Riehle added a single and scoring a run apiece were Brogan Buchanan, Austin Hodge and Bode Block.
Hodge was the winning pitcher in a relief appearance, throwing three innings and allowing one hit with four strikeouts and three walks. Gabe Stone started the game and lasted four innings with four runs given up -three earned- on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
South Decatur’s Cayden Drake was the losing pitcher, allowing three unearned runs on one hit in two innings with five strikeouts. Corey Nugent of South was 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, three runs and an RBI.
The Raiders scored 14 of their 18 runs against Waldron in the first two innings and the game lasted just five innings with the mercy rule in effect.
Schmaltz was 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored and Stone added a 2-for-3 performance with a double, three RBI and three runs. Landon Werner drove in four runs on a single and triple, Block had two hits and it was Castner and Buchanan each recording two RBI on a hit.
Block was the winning pitcher, throwing three innings and giving up two runs -one earned- on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
South Ripley (3-0) was at Switzerland County for an Ohio River Valley Conference game on Monday which also served as a rematch of last year’s Class 2A Sectional 45 Championship.
