Two innings was the difference on Friday (May 22) night as the Continental Baseball traveled to Miller City for DVII Sectional Final. The Wildcats came into the game claiming a share of the Putnam County League Title and a #7 ranking in the latest OHSBCA DVII poll. The Pirates were coming in with their best league record in 30 years and the most wins in the post COVID era. The Pirates went quietly in the first but the Wildcats did not. The Wildcats put together 3 hits, 2 walks, and some Pirates errors to cross 4 unearned runs in their half of the first. The Pirates look poised to stage a comeback as Keenan Bowers and Rhettik Bowers picked up 2 out walks and stole bases to put runners on second and third. The Wildcats picked up the third out with a strikeout. They shut down the Wildcats in their half of the second. Wildcats 2-0 after 2. The Pirates Haden Streicher picked up a two out walk in the top of the third. Quinn Tegenkamp followed up with a single that allowed Streicher to advance to third. But again the Wildcats got the key out. The Pirates got the bottom of the third over in three at-bats. Wildcats 4-0 after 3. The fourth inning had Pirate Jackson Bidlack lead off with a single but the Wildcats quickly got out of the inning. It was all Wildcats in their half of the fourth as they plated 7 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks to take an 11-0 lead. The Pirates went quietly in the top of the fifth for the 11-0 Wildcat final.
Seniors Quinn Tegenkamp and Jackson Bidlack both hit singles for the Pirates. Senior Rhettik Bowers, Sophomore Kennan Bowers, and Freshman Haden Striecher all earned walks.
Rhettik Bowers started for the Pirates and took the loss. Bowers went 3.1 innings giving up 8 runs (4 earned) on 4 hits, 5 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Jaydens Pitney pitched in relief and went .2 inning giving up 3 runs on 3 hits, 1 walk and 1 strikeout. The Pirates committed 3 errors while the Wildcats committed 1.
Pirates season ends at 6-18. Miller City improves to 17-4 will move on to take on Holgate on Thursday at Patrick Henry in a District Semifinal game.
Congratulations to Pirate Seniors Jackson Bidlack, Colton Hiltner, Quinn TEgenkamp, Codey Elston, Jayden Pitney, and Rhettik Bowers on the best Pirate season in while. Good luck in your future endeavors.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
