Offense was hard to come by on Tuesday.
In the Class 1 District 4 semifinals hosted by Community R-6, the Trojans lost 2-0 to New Haven in a game where each team finished with one hit. …
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Offense was hard to come by on Tuesday.
In the Class 1 District 4 semifinals hosted by Community R-6, the Trojans lost 2-0 to New Haven in a game where each team finished with one hit. Anthony Groner and Nik Crider each pitched into the seventh inning for New Haven and Community, respectively, in a game moved to Mexico High School’s turf field because of wet field conditions at Community.
Groner went seven innings with eight strikeouts, two walks and one hit while Crider had 6⅓ innings with eight strikeouts, two walks, two unearned runs and one hit. Head coach Chris Ellersieck said the Trojans just couldn’t put the bat on the ball.
“When you can’t put the bat on the ball, it’s hard to win baseball games,” Ellersieck said. “We struggled hitting it tonight because you have to hand it to them. Their kid did a great job pitching.”
Groner pitched against Community in the opening game of the season. He gave up seven hits in 5⅔ innings in a 3-1 Community win. This time, Groner retired the first 11 Trojans before issuing a couple of walks in the fourth inning.
Ellersieck said Groner made it tough on the Trojans and pitched a few innings with traffic. Community had one more rally started by a Kyler Swaim hit by pitch and then a Kaiden Erdel single for the only Trojan hit.
“He threw strikes and had a good curveball,” Ellersieck said. “He pitched a gem.”
Community fell behind in the second inning after New Haven scored a runner that was hit by a pitch, stole second base and then crossed home plate on an infield error. Ellersieck said New Haven took advantage of a unique situation where its hit batsmen batted out of order.
“The situation with them batting out of order, by rule, if it’s caught before the end of the at bat, then he gets to finish the at bat with the count where it is,” Ellersieck said. “If I had waited for him to either get on base or get a hit, then they would have called him out. That one’s on me.”
In the sixth inning, New Haven scored on another error on an errant throw to the plate. The Shamrocks loaded the bases with its only hit and two walks, so the Trojans attempted for the forceout at home.
Ellersieck said the offense wasn’t there for Community, but Crider also pitched a gem. Crider’s ERA finished this season at 3.92 and he struck out 32 in 30⅓ innings. When Ellersieck took over this season, he said he had good seniors at the core and the program has a bright future with players like Crider coming back.
“Nik pitched an awesome game,” Ellersieck said. “He’s going to be the No. 1 next year. He’s a kid that has velocity and can throw strikes. When he reaches down the mound, he’s as good as anybody.”
Ellersieck said it was hard to say goodbye to the seniors after this game. The program has accomplished much in their four years, including going 56-30 and finishing fourth in the state during their freshman year.
“Their leadership, their love for baseball, their baseball knowledge, their ability to play the game and to lead unselfishly,” Ellersieck said about what stands out about this departing senior class. “That’s the biggest takeaway for me. What they mean to this program, I don’t have words for what they mean to this community.”
