ANDERSON — A two-out rally in the top of the seventh and a huge defensive play in the bottom of that same inning helped the Anderson Indians to a 3-2 win over crosstown rival Highland at Bob Stecher Field on Wednesday.
The Indians and Scots were deadlocked at 1-1 going into the seventh inning.
Scots starter Andrew Hunt had scattered four hits to the Indians over the previous six innings. In Anderson’s last shot, Hunt retired the first two batters he faced.
The top of Anderson’s order then came to bat in the form of Nolan Earley.
Earley laced a 3-1 fastball into right field for a single. Drew Hollon followed with a walk before Johnny Weis hit an RBI single to score Earley and Blake Wilson hit a single to plate Hollon.
“We didn’t quit,” said AHS coach Terry Turner of his team’s two-out rally. “We had the top of the order coming up. Nolan got a hit, Drew got a walk and then Johnny and Blake got big hits for us.”
“Weis had been swinging good for us, and today he was clutch,” said Earley.
Highland then made its bid for the win in the bottom of the seventh.
Trevor Humes and Chandler Sidwell opened the inning with back-to-back doubles off Anderson’s Dustin Cannon. Cannon was the fourth pitcher for the Indians.
After Sidwell’s double scored Humes, Turner brought Earley back in to close out the game.
The Indians got the first out on a sacrifice bunt by Kaleb Ogden that moved Sidwell over to third.
Steven Mills laid down a bunt and the Indians fielded the ball and threw to first and Sidwell broke for home.
Anderson second baseman Zach Bucci caught the ball in front of first base and immediately threw home. Jake Bolinger’s swipe-tag caught Sidwell before he touched home plate for the second out.
Taylor Hopkins followed with a single to right field to give the Scots runners on first and second.
But Earley retired the Scots with a strikeout of Travis Gladney to end the game.
Earley started the game and picked up the save. The South Alabama recruit pitched three innings with no runs scored on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
For Highland, Hunt went the distance in the loss. The sophomore gave up three earned runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
The Scots had a defensive gem of their own in the sixth inning. Bucci led off for the Indians with a fly ball to centerfield that looked like it might drop for a single. But the Scots’ Brad Kinred came flying in to make the catch on a diving stab.
“Kinred’s catch was outstanding,” said Turner with a tip of the cap to his opponent. “I didn’t think he had a prayer to make that play.”
“There were a lot of great defensive plays today,” said Scots coach Matt Bair. “I thought Andrew Hunt pitched an incredible baseball game and he deserved to win, but Anderson made the plays today.”
For the Indians, three different players went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Earley scored a pair of runs with a double and a single. Weis had a pair of RBI singles for the Tribe. Rightfielder Tre Jackson was also 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. His second hit came on an infield single.
The Scots were led by Sidwell, who was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Humes was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Highland first got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Sidwell reached on an infield single with two outs. The Scots catcher then stole second and third base. Ogden drew a walk to give Highland runners at the corners with Mills coming to bat.
Ogden broke for second base and Bolinger threw to second where the Indians got Ogden in a rundown, but Sidwell scored before the third out was recorded.
“This is a game of inches. Today Anderson was a better team; they got those inches,” said Bair. “They got us today, but if we get another shot at them, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll be ready for them.”
Anderson used a total of four pitchers. Earley started and finished the game. Johnathan Lycan and Weis each pitched two innings for the Indians. Cannon faced just two batters in the seventh.
“We’ve got a conference game coming up on Saturday at Logansport,” said Turner. “I wanted my guys to get some work and throw live. So I gave them 30 pitches to keep them fresh for the weekend.”
“It was a bullpen session for us,” said Earley.
Anderson (8-1) travels to Logansport for a North Central Conference doubleheader at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Highand (10-3) travels to New Castle on Friday for a 5 p.m. game.
Home Sports (ADS ONLY)
Related Photos
-
Don Knight
-
Don Knight
-
Don Knight
-
Don Knight
Discussion
April 29, 2009
Tribe wins thriller against Scots
- Home Sports (ADS ONLY)
-
-
Businesses gear up on Blue Friday
ANDERSON — Indianapolis Colts fans of all ages used Blue Friday to celebrate their favorite team playing in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the New Orleans Saints.
-
Teen killed in crash remembered by family, friends
ANDERSON — The crowded living room of about 30 people with swollen eyes Friday night made one thing clear about 17-year-old Isaac Cardona: He was loved.
-
Will Lind be the people's choice?
The former Highland High School star and 2002 Indiana Mr. Baseball Award winner was named Sunday to the All-Star Game: Final Vote list by American League manager Joe Maddon. Lind, the Toronto Blue Jays’ designated hitter, is joined on the AL list by Los Angeles’ Chone Figgins, Detroit’s Brandon Inge, Texas’ Ian Kinsler and Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena.
-
Arabians win second straight sectional title
A young and improving Pendleton Heights baseball team completed a marathon day Tuesday with its second consecutive sectional championship.
Senior Nick Hathcoat had three hits and scored three runs as the Arabians beat No. 10 Connersville 11-4 at the Pendleton Heights Field of Dreams to win their second game of the day and a sectional crown. -
Panthers win delayed title game
The Elwood Panthers waited 24 hours to repeat as sectional champions. And repeat they did, downing the Alexandria Tigers 8-2 at Lapel High School on Tuesday.
-
Wilson helps keep Tribe on track
Junior Blake Wilson is no small part of Anderson's baseball success.
-
Rain halts Indy 500 rookie practice
Rain has halted rookie practice for the Indianapolis 500.
Only three drivers made it onto the track for about 45 minutes Wednesday. After a steady rain for the next five hours, the track was officially closed. -
I Want Revenge made early Kentucky Derby favorite
Jeff Mullins pulled I Want Revenge out of California this winter, sending him to run on dirt in New York. Bob Baffert stayed put on the synthetic surface with Pioneerof the Nile, and the colt racked up four consecutive victories.
-
Tribe wins thriller against Scots
A two-out rally in the top of the seventh and a huge defensive play in the bottom of that same inning helped the Anderson Indians to a 3-2 win over crosstown rival Highland at Bob Stecher Field on Wednesday.
-
Highland repeats feat
The Highland Lady Scots' tennis team made it two wins in five days against crosstown rival Anderson with a 3-2 victory over the Indians at the South Side Sports Complex on Wednesday.
- More Home Sports (ADS ONLY) Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
