Trojans split doubleheader

By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

Pitchers for both teams came through in clutch situations during a doubleheader Friday between Hillsboro High School and Marion High School.

HHS lefty Jacob Edwards pitched a no-hitter in game one, recording 11 strikeouts in six innings.

He had plenty of help from the offense on the way to a win. Most of the Trojans’ offense came in the first inning, starting when Aaron Bina drove in Jacob Fish with a double. HHS scored seven runs in the inning.

“That’s always a nice thing, when the guys help you with the sticks,” Edwards said.

After the first inning, the MHS defense clamped down, allowing one run in the second inning, and no more until the sixth inning.

In the sixth inning, Edwards drove in Fish and Tyler Ediger drove in Bina on consecutive singles to give HHS the 10-0 run-rule victory.

Being familiar with the MHS batters was helpful, Edwards said, because he knew their strengths and weaknesses. He threw a lot of fastballs on the outside edge of the plate, and it worked.

Edwards could be one of the best in the state, HHS Baseball Coach Doug Dick said.

Game two

Marion took a 5-0 lead in the sixth inning of game two before the Trojans rallied. Edwards drove Fish in from third base with a one-out double to deep center field.

Ediger closed the gap when he hit a two-run home run over the “chain-link monster” in left field, pulling Hillsboro to within two runs.

Ediger then took the pitching mound in relief, and the Trojans gave up one run following a dropped ball in the outfield.

With runners on first and second bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, Fish hit an RBI double down the left-field line.

Bina recorded a sacrifice groundout, driving in another run.

With two outs and a runner on third, Ediger came up to bat again. On a full count, Marion pitcher Wil Case walked Ediger.

Pinch runner Lucas Sinclair stole second base, but the Trojans couldn’t complete the rally, as Case struck out Luke Moore to end the game, 6-5.

“I was proud of our kids for battling back,” Dick said. “Marion, they played well.”

He credited MHS pitcher Marshall Ragland with keeping the Trojans off balance for much of the game, but said the team didn’t take advantage of early scoring opportunities.