Errors plague Ontario Warriors in Division II district baseball semifinal loss to Perkins
FREMONT — Errors plagued Ontario High School baseball in two crucial innings against Sandusky Perkins in Division II district semifinal action at Fremont Ross High School on Thursday.
Holding a six-run lead after scoring three runs in each of the second and third innings, four errors by Ontario in the fourth frame led to Perkins scoring six runs to tie the game, before the Pirates went on to plate a pair in the top of the ninth inning to come out with an 8-6 triumph.
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Ontario pitchers Carter Walters and James Mahon both threw solid innings, as all the runs off of them were unearned due to the errors. Walters started and went 3 2/3 innings, yielding six unearned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Mahon tossed 5 1/3 frames, giving up two unearned runs on a trio of hits with five whiffs and three walks.
"Both Walters and Mahon, they competed, you're hoping the defense behind them plays clean and we didn't play clean today, and it pretty much cost us," said Ontario coach Mike Ellis. "It is what it is, sometimes you have days like this. You're hoping you don't have them during the tournament, I'd rather have it during the regular season, but you have to give Perkins credit because they kept battling. I'm proud of my kids, proud of my pitchers, we just ended up on the short end of it today."
The Warriors scored three runs in the second inning with the big blow being a three-run triple by Jaren Holden, who belted an offering by Perkins' starter John Zwiesler to right-centerfield.
In the third inning, Ontario scored three more runs as Carter Weaver socked an RBI single and Bryson Stoots plated a run with a sacrifice fly to center.
For the Pirates, Zwiesler threw 7 2/3 innings, relinquishing six runs (three earned) on five hits with four whiffs and one walk.
Talon Walton picked up the win by tossing the final 1 1/3 frames, allowing no hits with one strikeout and one walk.
Perkins avenges last season's 6-5 loss to Ontario in the sectional final, with the Warriors making a run to the state title game where they finished runners-up.
Nolan Thomas led the Pirates with three hits and Braylon Collier added a pair with two RBIs.
Walters had a pair of hits for the Warriors, who end this season at 15-11.
"That's probably the hardest thing with these seniors, it's a great group of seniors that really as juniors carried us to that state final," Ellis noted. "I'm going to miss those guys. For this program, this is our third straight year since I've taken over we were able to get to the district, and we're not going to stop.
"This last inning we sent up two freshmen, the first two batters (Landon Sowards, Holden), so that tells you something there, I'm willing to do that so yeah, the future is bright," Ellis added. "This is going to hurt but I tell the kids the sun's going to come up tomorrow, and it's a brand-new day but sometimes you have to learn lessons in life, and you move on."
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ontario Warriors lost to Perkins Pirates in Division II district semifinal baseball
