Trojans grind out split with Marion
Hillsboro baseball team falls in opener, rallies big for 17-12 win in finale
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Trojan fans who figured Hillsboro was done for Friday night in the season opener finale at Marion might heed the warning — it's not over until it's over.
Those who left with the Trojans in a 12-4 hole, and down to their last three outs missed as good a comeback as any in the program's short history.
Hillsboro broke loose in the top of the seventh for a 13-run explosion to thwart a veteran Warrior sweep with a dramatic 17-12 win.
With first-year coach Dustin McEwen and one returning starter with an abundant amount of varsity playing time, the Trojans won't be wealthy in experience.
The Warriors pulling off a 13-5 win in the opener got the greenhorn Trojans' feet wet.
"There was a lot of concern going into the game as far as not having a lot of experience," McEwen said. "You've got nerves. You get some errors in there in some key places."
The errors were a factor in the first game, with Marion blasting Hillsboro by ripping off seven unearned runs from seven mistakes.
The game got off to a rough start literally, with Brandon Moss getting popped in the mouth in his first at-bat to complete his night.
With Chad Hughbanks pitching, the game started to come unplugged from the mound, with Marion jumping out to a 6-1 lead to close out the second.
Michael Bookless sawed the lead to 6-2 in the top of the third off Warrior pitcher Jimmy Shipman, singling in Adam Scheele.
Marion put another trio of runs up in the bottom of the second, and Hillsboro couldn't get over the hill despite adding another run in the third.
Hughbanks got out of the third with no further damage done and the Trojans on the brink of a big fourth.
While the Warriors flourished from Trojan mistakes, Hillsboro got a boost in the fourth with Jared Fish scoring on a wild pitch at home.
The Trojans pulled to 6-4 with another throwing error before Scheele singled in Hillsboro's final run.
Marion put the game out of reach in its half of the fourth, rallying to double Hillsboro over, 10-5.
Hillsboro missed a chance to cut into the lead in the top half of the sixth as the bases were left loaded.
Hughbanks suffered his first defeat of the year, surrendering eight hits from 24 batters while fanning five Warriors.
"Our pitchers didn't do bad considering they were all first time stepping up to the plate," said McEwen. "None of them got crazy-wild. They were all in around the plate and made Marion have to hit the ball and I was pleased with that."
As quickly as the Trojans jumped on Clayton Chamberland in the top half of the nightcap's first inning, the Warriors were just as quick to jump on Jared Fish.
Fish led off the nightcap with a stand-up double to deep center before Hughbanks drove him in for the first run.
Scheele also added a single and the Trojans were off to a 2-0 start.
The third run came courtesy of Chamberland getting wild at the plate.
Hillsboro then gave the three runs back as a misfire to first base tied the game for Marion.
The Trojans were again doubled over to start the third after the Warriors rallied for three more in the bottom of the second.
By the end of the third, with Marion earning two more runs, it looked as if the Warriors were well on their way to a clean sweep of Hillsboro.
Fish never saw it though, trimming the lead to two with an RBI single.
Marion hung four more up in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Mike Bookless.
Bookless notched his first win of the season in Fish's relief, punching out six batters and tossing a three-hitter.
With just four hits through six innings, Hillsboro rallied for eight down to their last three outs.
Scheele, Hughbanks, Bookless and Justin Moore all scored on two-base hits while Goldsby tripled.
On top of walking three Trojans, reliever Tyler Stubenhofer gave up a back-breaking three-run error.
"The game grew on and we finally got to him (Chamberland)," McEwen said. "Hitting is just contagious. One guy gets up to the plate and gets a hit. They had one big error there that got the momentum rolling for us.
The Trojans face a grueling week starting Tuesday in Wichita against new-look Collegiate.
Hillsboro opens its home portion of its schedule today at 4:30 when it hosts 4A powerhouse Nickerson.
