Game Report: Pittman’s Home Run Sends the Hauser Baseball Team to the Semi-Finals

The South Ripley varsity baseball team and coach Jeff Greiwe were looking to stifle a potent Hauser Jet offense in their opening game Wednesday night in their 2A Sectional. On April 6, the two teams squared off in Versailles and saw the Jets bats dominate with 11 first inning runs. Hauser didn’t let up and ran away with a 17-1 win, in five innings.

Following a two hour and 15-minute rain delay (9:45 p.m.) Wednesday, the rematch was underway. Each team started their ace pitchers, Mason McNew for the Raiders, and Jets lefty Simeon Wasil. The game plan for the Raiders worked well as they held the Jets to one run through four innings. Wasil was even better as he hadn’t allowed a run.

The bats woke up in the 5th inning as Hauser’s Holden Pittman doubled to drive in two. South Ripley answered with their first run of the game in the bottom of the 5th. With the Jets still up 3-1, the Raiders got hot and captured their first lead of the game 4-3 in the bottom of the 6th.

The Raiders were three outs away from victory, but the Jets wouldn’t go away that easily as they plated the tying run on a passed ball. The game went into extra innings with neither team scoring in the 8th. In the top of the 9th with a runner on Pittman blasted a ball well over the 330 feet left field fence and disappeared in the trees. Hauser follows up with another run in the 9th to lead 7-4.

A three-run lead with three outs remaining may have seemed like some breathing room for Coach Nate Long’s Jets, but the Raiders were not going away that easily. A two out bases loaded walk brings South Ripley within two. Raiders Braxton Wilson follows with a run scoring single to make it a one run game. The game was on the line for Brady Ruble at the plate. With a 3-2 count, bases loaded and two outs, the game comes down to one pitch. A hard ground ball was hit to Wasil at third base to force the third out and secure the win. Despite the game starting at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, and ending at 12:48 a.m. Thursday, it was well worth the price of admission. Hauser Nation went home happy.

Kam Blair earned the pitching win in relief of Wasil. Kam gave up two runs, (one earned) and two hits over three and one-third innings. He struck out four and walked four. Brady Ruble took the loss for South Ripley. Simeon pitched five and two-thirds innings, striking out eight, walking seven, surrendering four runs on two hits. McNew gave up seven hits and four runs (zero earned) over five and two-thirds innings, striking out 13 and walking two.

Stryker Gill, Pittman, and Wasil had multiple hits for Hauser, while RJ Foster, Lukas Christian, and Blair had one each to equal 10 total.

“I was proud of the team as they showed grit and toughness coming back after getting down in the seventh inning” said Coach Nate Long following the game. He went on to say, “Guys made some big-time defensive plays along with some timely hitting”

Hauser advances to the Sectional Semi-Finals Monday at South Ripley High School in Versailles. First pitch is at 10 a.m. against Milan. The winner will advance to the Championship Monday night.