Nickerson dims title hopes for Hillsboro
Hillsboro musters three hits Tuesday in 10-0 shutout; remains alive
in Zone V tourney
BY RYAN RICHTER
Sports Writer
Hillsboro American Legion Post 366 player Brandon Moss hung his head in dismay.
Nickerson pitcher Matt Kern's throw sailed right past Moss, putting the finishing touches on a 10-0 shutout in Tuesday night's Hillsboro American Legion zone tournament.
The shutout leaves Post 366 one loss away from elimination, with Nickerson standing in the way of either Hillsboro, Andover or Pratt's way of advancing out of zone.
Dismay best summed up 366's game against the majority of the 2002 Class 4A state baseball champions, Nickerson.
Hillsboro only conjured up a trio of hits, nothing better than a single.
Post 366 star pitcher Jerod Metcalf took the hill in the top of the third inning.
By the time he got there, Hillsboro was stuck in a 4-0 pickle after starter Robert Verbic gave up a three-run bases loaded double in the top of the first.
Nickerson got its fourth run courtesy of one of two first inning errors, a mistake charged to the catcher on a wild throw to third.
Metcalf pitched his way out of a potentially disastrous situation in the top of the third, taking over the game with the bases loaded and one out.
Perhaps 366's biggest highlight of the game came in the top of the third when Metcalf and catcher Kris Jones turned a good-looking double play to elude further damage.
But Kern's pitching kept the emergency brake on Hillsboro's offense all night.
Metcalf pitched two scoreless innings before it started breaking loose on him in the top of the sixth.
A pair of RBI doubles followed by a fielder's choice and the lights began to grow dim on 366's chances of coming back, down 7-0.
The light-bulb burned out in the top of the seventh as Nickerson rolled up four hits, one an RBI double and a pair of one-run singles, making for the 10-0 final.
Facing elimination Wednesday night, Hillsboro faced either Pratt or Andover with the winner of the Hillsboro game advancing to the championship game on Wednesday night.
Should Hillsboro advance to the final game and beat Nickerson, 366 must beat them again Thursday night at 6 p.m.
Pratt
Hillsboro jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after the first inning and cruised to a 10-0 shutout of Pratt in five innings on a cool 100-degree Sunday night.
Metcalf picked up the win on the mound for 366, firing a four-hitter.
Caleb Marsh went 3-for-4, driving in three RBIs and three hits.
Lindsborg
Lindsborg never posed a threat to 366 during the regular season, but that all changed in Saturday night's first round game.
Lindsborg used a trio of 366-errors to turn a 4-0 game into a 5-4 lead in the top of the fourth inning off pitcher Steven Chisholm.
Stunned, Hillsboro regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, eventually run-ruling Lindsborg in six, 13-5.
A wild pitch allowed Shawn Hughbanks to score the go-ahead run before 366 blew the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth.
