Derrick Webb, Managing Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
CHILLICOTHE — You dance with who brought you.
Huntington’s date to a Division VI district championship game on Tuesday happened to be veteran starter Andrew Oyer.
And when the senior hurler found himself in a world of trouble in the first inning of a must-win game, the Huntsmen (18-9) decided to stick with their guns.
It paid off in a big way.
After allowing four runs early, Oyer settled into a groove, allowing his offense to come alive while he hung zeroes. It was a recipe that led to a 7-5 comeback win over Southeastern — marking the program’s second-ever district championship.
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
“I’m extremely happy with our effort,” Huntington coach Chad Carroll said. “Even after getting down, we didn’t give up. With another group, it would be hard to stay up after you’re already down 4-0 and facing one of the best pitchers [SE’s Carson McWhorter] in the area. Not to mention the fact that we’re running so many freshmen and sophomores out there. I think some thought we’re probably a year ahead of schedule. But we’ve got really good junior and senior leadership. I give the kids all the credit for hanging in there.”
Early on, Southeastern (15-9) was the clear aggressor.
In the top of the first inning, after a walk and a base hit from Coleton Baxter, Gage Cheadle gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead with an RBI single that scored CJ Huff.
Brayden Burns then played add-on with an RBI single of his own before Carson McWhorter logged a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 tally. When Brycen Kessler singled to make it a 4-0 game, even though it was early, things looked bleak for the Huntsmen.
“Some people were surprised that I didn’t pull [Oyer] in the middle of that first inning,” Carroll said. “We were down 4-0 in the first inning, so I got that. But you dance with who brought you. This is the third year in a row that he’s brought us here. And at that point in time, I just don’t think you should make dramatic changes in big-time circumstances. When you look back, you don’t want to regret it. So you go with what you know.”
PHOTOS: Images from Huntington’s district title win over Southeastern
Oyer struck out the next batter and induced an inning-ending line out to stop the bleeding. But before stepping to the plate for the first time, Huntington had plenty of work to do.
In the bottom of the third, the Huntsmen started to chip away.
Alex Long singled to begin the frame and later came around to score on an RBI single via Frankie Hirsch. Then, after a Junior McDonald singled, Tucker Hopkins smacked a two-run double to score both runners, eroding the deficit to 4-3.
Then, in the fifth, McDonald tried on his superhero cape.
Oyer and Andrew McKnight started the rally with back-to-back singles. That set up McDonald to come to the plate with two on and one out in a one-run ballgame.
He proceeded to work a 10-pitch at-bat in the most important part of the game before lasering a high flyball to the warning track, clearing the bags and giving Huntington a 5-4 advantage — one the Huntsmen never relinquished.
“For him, it feels like he’s been around forever,” Carroll said of McDonald. “He’s all-league and all-district as a freshman and sophomore and, not only was that a great hit, it was after a 10-pitch at-bat. Just to continually battle, that’s exactly what we always ask. It was just a huge at-bat.”
McDonald was eventually cut down at home plate trying to score, but his team continued to add insurance runs.
Landon Lowery singled to score Hopkins for a 6-4 score before a called balk allowed him to score, swelling the edge to three runs.
In the top of the seventh, in a do-or-die scenario, Southeastern battled to force extra innings or even take a lead.
Baxter and Cheadle both logged one-out singles, forcing Huntington to call on Hopkins to close things out on the bump. A sacrifice fly from Burns scored a run, producing the eventual final, but Hopkins picked up the save by striking out the next hitter — the potential tying run.
“When Andrew got to around 100 pitches, we knew we had Tucker over there. That’s just a big, strong freshman that can throw a little bit,” Carroll said. “So we didn’t hesitate and he did a good job. And I have to mention Maverick Hardesty, who made a great catch, basically, in right field. If he doesn’t catch that ball, twisting and turning, from his second base position, who knows. That’s crazy.”
Statistically, McDonald led Huntington’s offensive efforts with a 2-for-3 effort alongside a triple, a run scored and two RBIs. Calvin Hirsch also went 2-for-3 with a double while Hopkins finished 1-for-3 with a two-bagger and a pair of RBIs.
Oyer’s final pitching line spanned 6 ⅓ innings. He allowed four earned runs and struck out six.
For the Panthers, Coleton Baxter was 2-for-4 with two runs, Cheadle went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Landon Brown helped out, going 2-for-3. Burns followed, finishing 1-for-3 with a run and a pair of RBIs.
McWhorter took the loss in a complete game effort, surrendering seven earned runs on 10 hits and striking out three.
While Southeastern’s season comes to an end, Huntington advances to a Division VI regional semifinal at 2 p.m., Wednesday at Beavers Field.
The Huntsmen will meet with Mechanicsburg, who beat Liberty Union by a 2-1 final to advance.
“We just have to do what we’ve done all year,” Carroll said. “I think we play really good schools in our league and our non-league schedule is tough with Valley, Lynchburg-Clay and so on. We just will go there and do what we’ve done all year long, and let the chips fall where they may.”
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