HILLSBORO, Ohio — The Hillsboro Indians varsity Baseball team saw it’s season come to a close on a rain soaked diamond at Shaffer Park in Hillsboro on Monday when they lost to the Fairfield Union Falcons by a final score of 3-2 in eight innings.
“This game was just two really good teams playing each other. Some people might look at the six seed from them and think that this is a game we are supposed to win, we probably are supposed to win this game,” said Hillsboro Head Coach Matt Garman. “But as is always the case with teams coming out of the MSL they are a heck of a lot better than a six seed.”
Luke Magulac got the start for the Indians and pitched six strong innings while allowing five hits, and two runs. Magulac also struck out eight batters and walked three in the game.
Ethan Humphries relieved Magulac in the top of the seventh inning and pitched two innings in relief, allowed three hits and one run in the game while throwing 18 of his 27 pitches for strikes.
Senior Grant Crum led the Indians offensively with three hits in the game while Jared Thompson had one hit and one RBI against the Falcons.
Both teams scored in the first inning and the game remained tied at one run apiece until Thompson drove in Ethan Watson with a fly ball single to the left fielder that gave Hillboro a 2-1 lead after five innings.
The Falcons tied the game in the top of the sixth inning and the game remained tied until the top of the eighth inning when Fairfield Union scored on a fly ball with two outs to take a 3-2 lead.
The Indians had chances in the bottom of the seventh and bottom of the eight innings that were thwarted by the Fairfield Union defense including a line drive to left center by Watson that looked like it would fall before the center fielder chased it down for the out.
For seniors Ethan Watson, Ethan Humphries, Jared Thompson, Dylan Boone, Grant Crum and Brennen Priest this was their final game in a Hillsboro uniform and coach Garman said that they will be hard to replace going forward.
“This senior class has been a good group of guys as far as working, as far as being baseball guys for four consecutive years. I mean it’s not just like they showed up their senior year and felt the urgency,” said Garman. “These guys have worked so hard for four years. That’s why when we won that FAC title I said it was earned because these guys have been working for that for a long time. You always want it to end better than this. I mean you want to at least get a couple tournament wins and get to Athens and have that.”
“You feel awful for them, we are not going to be able to replace this senior group the heart that they have is so unbelievably huge. Each and every one of them. You can see it on their faces right now. They’re such great baseball guys and such great program guys and they have been for four years,” Garman said. “I’m going to miss them so much and i feel so bad for them.”
Ryan Applegate is the Sports Editor for The Times-Gazette. Reach Ryan Applegate at 937-402-2572, or on Twitter @RCApplegate89.
