Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — Aiden Torparcean’s lone hit of the night couldn’t have come at a better time.
With a runner in scoring position, the sophomore shortstop ripped a game-winning RBI single inside the left field foul line to lift Adena to a 2-1 win over Gallia Academy on Tuesday night.
“I grounded out in my first three at-bats, so I knew I was seeing the ball,” Toparcean said. “I had another chance, and the pitch he threw me was right down the middle, so I just swung and hit it.”
It also marks the first victory in the head coaching career of Adena’s Evan Ferguson.
“He was nearly in tears talking to us after the game. You can tell how much it means to him,” Adena’s Colton Garrison said. “It’s easy to see how much he loves the game and how much he cares about us, so it’s great getting this first win for him.”
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
Garrison was the driving force behind the team’s first win of the season as he tossed a complete-game gem, allowing just two hits and striking out 10 batters.
“This was more about my teammates behind me and playing really good defense,” Garrison said. “I put the ball over the plate and I knew the guys behind me had my back. Gavin did a great job behind the plate of not letting anything get by him. Coach Ferg called a great pitching game and we just executed from top to bottom.”
Gallia Academy’s Beckett Camden wasted no time putting the Blue Devils on the board. With one out in the first inning, he hit a soft grounder and Adena committed a throwing error, allowing the senior to keep running.
The Warriors (1-1) tried to throw him out at third, but another miscue sent him sliding safely home to put GA ahead 1-0.
Adena answered back in the bottom half, though.
A two-out error kept the inning alive, followed by a single from Garrison, which set up Corban Timson to rip an RBI single into center field, tying the game at 1-1.
For the next 5 1/2 innings, Garrison and Gallia’s Logen Drummond locked into a pitcher’s duel that seemingly resulted in one strikeout after another.
WIth solid defenses behind them, and little to no threats on the bases paths, it seemed like a game destined to come down to the final at-bat.
After GA went down in order in the seventh, Torparcean got the chance to play hero.
A fly out and a strikeout quickly dashed the Warriors’ hopes. But Gavin Herald gave them a pulse when he notched a triple.
That set up Toparcean, who took an 0-1 count piercing down the left field line for the game-winning RBI single to send the Warriors home as winners.
“Before that last at-bat, Coach Ferg pulled me aside and said, ‘Whatever comes down the middle, send it right back,’” Herald said. “It felt really good to get my first hit of the season, and a triple nonetheless to set up Aiden for the game-winner. We brought a lot of energy to the game, and it’s great getting our first win after falling flat against Chillicothe the night before.”
Drummond took the loss in a complete game effort, allowing and earned run on five hits, and striking out nine batters.
Adena suffered a 24-7 loss to Miami Trace on Thursday and returns to action on Monday at Zane Trace to open SVC play. Meanwhile, Gallia Academy opens OVC play at South Point that same evening.
SPONSORS
NEIL COLEMAN INSURANCE
THE ROOT SPORTS & FITNESS CENTER
