Blue Lions beat Tigers in Sectional, 7-5

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The Washington Blue Lions opened play in the Division II Sectional tournament Monday, May 16 with a third meeting of the season against Frontier Athletic Conference opponent the McClain Tigers.

It seems never to be particularly easy to beat a team three times in a season, but that was the challenge set before the Blue Lions.

Washington hosted McClain back on April 8 and won that game, 6-1.

On April 22, the Blue Lions visited Mitchell Park in Greenfield and defeated the Tigers, 12-1.

Monday’s game was much closer, with the Blue Lions holding on for the 7-5 win.

McClain had runners at second and third in the top of the seventh after already scoring twice in the frame.

A.J. Dallmayer, who came on in relief of starter Titus Lotz, got the final out and earned the pitching victory.

Washington, now 15-5 on the season and the No. 5 seed in the tournament, will turn around and host the No. 13 seed New Lexington Panthers for a Sectional championship Wednesday at 5 p.m. New Lexington upset Miami Trace Monday, 10-3.

The winner of that game will advance to the District tournament at Ohio University on Monday, May 23.

Lotz started for the Blue Lions and pitched five innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.

Dallmayer finished with two innings and two unearned runs on one hit with no walks and five strikeouts.

Haydon Hice started for the Tigers and pitched six innings. He allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

McClain got on the board with a run in the top of the first and the Blue Lions answered, tying the game in the bottom of the initial frame.

Lotz reached second base on an error in the outfield.

Dallmayer followed with a double to right field, scoring Lotz for a 1-1 score after one inning.

The Blue Lions took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the second.

Bryce Yeazel singled to right field with one out.

Evan Lynch followed with a walk and Karson Runk was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.

Lotz hit a double to right field that scored Yeazel and Lynch.

Runk scored to make it 4-1 on a sacrifice fly by Dallmayer.

The third and fourth innings were scoreless for both teams.

Tanner Lemaster at one point made what head coach Mark Schwartz called a “great diving play” at first base.

“That got us out of an inning,” Schwartz said.

McClain drew closer with a pair of runs in the top of fifth.

Washington got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth.

Lemaster hit a double to left field and came home on a line drive single to center by Tyler Tackage.

“That was a big hit,” Schwartz said.

Leading 5-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, Washington plated two runs that turned out to be crucial in this game.

Yeazel got his second hit of the game, a single to right field.

Lynch put down a sacrifice bunt to move Yeazel into scoring position.

Runk delivered a single to left field.

Gavin Coffman, pinch-running for Yeazel, went to third on the hit.

Coffman scored on a passed ball to give Washington a 6-3 lead with Runk moving up to third.

Lotz grounded out, bringing Runk to the plate to make it 7-3.

McClain scored two runs in the top of the seventh and had runners at second and third with two away when Dallmayer struck out the Tiger batter to end the game.

“McClain is definitely not the team we played a couple of weeks ago,” Schwartz said. “We run-ruled them down there and then they went on a five or six game winning streak.

“They came to play tonight,” Schwartz said of the Tigers. “I told our guys that we couldn’t take them lightly. They hit the ball well tonight and we made a couple of mistakes here and there. But we were able to get through it and get a big win. It was a good team win. It seemed like we got contributions from everybody in the lineup tonight, including some guys off the bench.

“We’re fortunate we get to play again on Wednesday,” Schwartz said.

For the Tigers, Isaac Smith went 3 for 4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored.

Seth Weller hit a double and scored two runs; Kaden Penwell had one hit and scored two runs. Jayden Allison walked twice and drove in two runs and Connor McCune had one hit.

Tackage had two stolen bases for the Blue Lions.

Washington left six on base and McClain stranded eight runners.

Postseason honors have been announced and, for Washington, Tanner Lemaster and A.J. Dallmayer are First Team, All-FAC.

Lemaster and Dallmayer are also First Team, All-District.

John Wall was named Second Team, All-District and Karson Runk and Tyler Tackage were Special Mention, All-District.

RHE

Mc 100 020 2 — 5 6 2

W 130 012 x — 7 9 4

Washington’s A.J. Dallmayer brings a pitch to the plate during a Division II Sectional tournament game against the McClain Tigers Monday, May 16, 2022.
https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2022/05/web1_AJ-Dallmayer-vs-mcclain5-16-2022.jpgWashington’s A.J. Dallmayer brings a pitch to the plate during a Division II Sectional tournament game against the McClain Tigers Monday, May 16, 2022. Courtesy photo

Karson Runk awaits the throw at second base for the Blue Lions ahead of a runner from McClain during a Division II Sectional semifinal game at Washington High School Monday, May 16, 2022.
https://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2022/05/web1_Karson-Runk-vs-McClain-5-16-2022.jpgKarson Runk awaits the throw at second base for the Blue Lions ahead of a runner from McClain during a Division II Sectional semifinal game at Washington High School Monday, May 16, 2022. Courtesy photo

By Chris Hoppes

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