CENTERBURG – The Centerburg baseball team likes to put pressure on its opponents.
Whether it be running hard out of the batter’s box, taking the extra base on a hit or just trying to move up with a steal, the Trojans thrive by making their foes work hard in the field.
Thursday, that pressure paid off again as the Trojans ran their way to a 6-4 victory over visiting Columbus Academy in the Division III Sectional tournament.
“I feel like that’s our identity. We beat out so many balls this year because we preach to our guys hard out of the box. Get down the line and put some pressure on them,” said Centerburg coach Josh Moss. “We took advantage of some mistakes (seven errors by Academy). Something we’ve done all year is get guys on, put pressure on them on the basepaths. We did that again tonight.”
The Trojans (19-4) had four stolen bases, a double steal and a hit and run that worked to perfection in the victory. That aggressiveness also led to an errant pickoff attempt by Academy pitcher Dylan Ritzenhaler that led to another run.
Three of those steals came in the Trojans’ first at bat. Jared Rings, Dalton Hall and Jesse Rings all stole second, helping to lead to two runs.
The Trojans added four more in the third, thanks to that aggressiveness, which caused some major issues for the Vikings’ defense.
After walking to lead off the inning, Dakota Baer scored when Ritzenhaler’s pickoff attempt sailed wide of first base. The ball rolled well down the right field line and the speedy Baer was able to motor all the way home.
A double steal led to another run, as did a hit and run, and a wild pitch. The Trojans scored four runs in the inning with only one ball getting out of the infield (a single by Grayson Reynolds).
Those six runs would hold up for the Trojans, but it wasn’t easy.
Academy loaded the bases in the first inning, but were unable to score. A huge 5-4-3 double play helped the Trojans stop another threat in the fourth.
The Vikings finally dented the scoreboard in the sixth when John Hill hit a solo home run. A great play by Centerburg catcher Dalton Hall to pick off a runner at first during Hill’s at bat kept it from being worse.
Then, Academy really put a scare into the Trojan faithful in the top of the seventh.
Two walks and a single to start the inning ended the night of Centerburg starter Griffin Collins. Senior reliever Reed Compton came in and closed the door, but not before the Vikings had loaded the bases on two more singles and a walk. Compton was able to finally slam the door on Academy by coaxing a ground ball to third baseman Jared Rings.
“I felt Griff had earned the right to finish that game. It meant a lot for me to see him finish that game. He wasn’t able to get it done, but he battled his butt off for us,” Moss said. “Reed (Compton) came in and took care of it. Senior and senior, back to back.”
Griffin allowed seven hits on the night, but sent the Vikings down 1-2-3 in four innings. He walked two and struck out one. Compton struck out two and walked one.
The Trojans managed just three singles on the night – one each from Grayson Reynolds, Isaiah Reynolds and Hunter Parker.
Centerburg will now play fourth-seeded Amanda-Clearcreek in the district semifinals on Monday. The Aces beat North Union, 7-2.
“We talked about our goals this year – win 20 games, win the KMAC and win the district. We came up one game short in the KMAC. We’ve got one more to go to get to 20, which would get us to the district finals,” Moss said. “I think we’re playing good baseball at the right time. I thought we played really good defense today.
“We had a couple of walks late that hurt us. But, when we’re throwing strikes and playing good defense, I like our chances.”
