THORNVILLE — The Washington Blue Lions didn’t have a lot of time to enjoy their Sectional tournament-opening victory over Logan Elm on Saturday.
Washington was right back in action Monday, traveling to Perry County for a Sectional semifinal game at Thornville against the No. 1 seed Sheridan Generals.
Washington took an early 1-0 lead, but Sheridan (ranked No. 9 in the state in Division II) rallied to win the game, 2-1.
The Blue Lions end the season with a record of 7-18.
Jarred Hall started and pitched six innings for Washington. He allowed five hits and two runs (both earned) with two strikeouts and one walk.
Johnson got the win for Sheridan. He pitched six innings with four hits and one run (earned). He struck out six and walked six.
Campbell pitched one inning for the save. He struck out two and walked one.
Washington scored in the top of the second inning.
Ryan Schwartz led off with a single to left field.
Eli Shaw walked and Tyler Tackage bunted both runners into scoring position.
Schwartz scored on a ground out by Cortez O’Flaherty.
The Blue Lions had other opportunities to score, including in the third inning.
The Blue Lions got two runners on with walks to Karson Runk and Bailey Roberts, but did not score.
Washington left two runners on base in the fourth when Tackage singled and George Reno walked.
The Blue Lions had a walk to Roberts in the fifth and a walk to Shaw in the sixth, but did not score.
Reno walked to lead off the seventh, but the next three batters were retired in order.
“It was a tough game to lose,” Washington head coach Mark Schwartz said. “We had our chances.
“We gave them everything we had,” Schwartz said. “Unfortunately we came up on the losing end.
“They hit the ball when they needed to,” Schwartz said. “We had a couple of chances throughout the game and just didn’t capitalize. That’s what happens (when you don’t capitalize), you lose 2-1 games.
“I’m really proud of these guys,” Schwartz said. “I challenged them a couple of weeks ago after we played Eastern Brown. We weren’t playing our best ball. They responded and we’ve played our best ball at the end of the year.
“I still don’t think we’re a 7-18 team,” Schwartz said. The Blue Lions lost eight games this year by two runs or less. “When you don’t win those close games early in the season, you’re going to have a record like that.”
In other Division II Sectional tournament games in the Southeast District Monday, Fairfield Union defeated Hillsboro, 3-2 in 8 innings and Marietta beat Waverly, 13-7.
There were five games postponed Monday and rescheduled for Tuesday: McClain at Miami Trace, Vinton County at Athens, New Lexington at Circleville, Gallia Academy at Zane Trace and Warren at Unioto.
Sectional championship games are scheduled to be played Thursday.
Post season honors
Bailey Roberts was named First Team, All-FAC for the Blue Lions.
RHE
W 010 000 0 — 1 4 0
S 001 010 x — 2 5 0
Offensively for Washington: George Reno, 0-2, 2 bb; Karson Runk, 0-3, 1 bb; Jarred Hall, 1-4, fc; Tyler Rood, 1-4; Bailey Roberts, 0-1, 2 bb; Ryan Schwartz, 1-3, 1 run; Eli Shaw, 0-1; Tyler Tackage, 1-2, sac; Cortez O’Flaherty, 0-3, 1 rbi. LOB: 9
Offensively for Sheridan: Trowbridge, 3-3, 2 runs, 3b; Farmer, 1-3, 2 rbi, 2b, fc; Campbell, 0-3; Malone, 0-2, 1 bb; King, 1-3, sb; Gillenwater, 0-3; Sode, 0-2; Johnson, 0-2; Turnes, 0-2. LOB: 4.
