Late surge propels River View past rival Coshocton

WARSAW — Todd Liberatore has preached the importance of responding to his River View squad.

The Black Bears heeded their coach's words on Thursday.

After rival Coshocton plated three runs in the top of the fourth inning to tie it at 4, Brody Shrimplin doubled home Bryson Fry for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame.

River View added four runs over the next two innings, and Fry shut down the Redskins' offense over the final 2 1/3 innings to secure a 9-4 victory in a Muskingum Valley League crossover.

"That's the one thing I always tell our guys is we have to answer back," Liberatore said. "We were able to put up two runs over the next two innings, and Bryson did his job. He's a strike thrower and doesn't give up free bases. He's been consistent all season."

Coshocton put runners at the corners with two outs in the fifth against starter Trace Davis when Fry got the call. The senior hurler struck out Gage Wright to end the threat and keep the game at 5-4. He retired six of the final eight Coshocton hitters to earn the save.

"I knew our team would get a couple runs if I kept them off the board," Fry said. "I came in wanting to close the door and I trusted my defense to make some plays."

Ethan Jordan's single scored Davis in the fifth to make it 6-4, while Jordan added another RBI single and Fry brought home two with a base hit in the sixth to cap the River View scoring.

River View collected 16 hits with Slater Sampsel having three of those. Davis, Jordan, Brody Shrimplin, Evan McPeak and Arik Lumbatis added two hits apiece, as Davis and McPeak each doubled.

Davis allowed four runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and six walks in 4 2/3 innings to earn the win, while Fry fanned three and gave up one hit in the final 2 1/3 innings.

River View also did not commit an error, and Liberatore said a blend of good defense, hitting and pitching is what the Black Bears must lean on for success as the postseason nears.

The baseball tournament draw is on Sunday.

"We believe we can play with anyone in our district. We've had competitive games with John Glenn and Tri-Valley and know what Indian Valley has," Liberatore said. "We need to play good defense; our pitchers need to pound the zone; and we need to have good at-bats. We did that tonight, and if we play our game, then we have a chance every night."

Fry echoed that sentiment. He was part of last year's team that grabbed the top seed but was upset by Philo in the sectional tournament.

That experience shows River View anything is possible if the Black Bears play to their abilities.

"Hopefully, this one gets us going and motivates us," Fry said. "We got a good team coming here on Saturday, and we have some tests next week. We need to push forward and try to play our best. We know that we can be better than we have been, and what we did tonight is what we look like at our best."

River View got off to a strong start with two runs in the first. Shrimplin singled home Sampsel to start the scoring, and Cruz Mobley brought home Owen Emig with a two-out single.

Blake Alexander drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the third to get Coshocton on the board, but McPeak singled home Emig then scored on a Lumbatis single for a 4-1 lead through three.

Davis retired the first two Redskins of the fourth, but a two-out walk to Colton Conkle started the rally. He took second on a passed ball and scored on Wright's single. Kobe Rust followed with a double to bring in Wright, and two batters later, Hudson Wesney fought off a Davis pitch and blooped the ball in to right field, plating Rust to tie it at 4.

Zach Jennings had two of Coshocton's six hits, while Travin Berry suffered the loss, giving up six runs on 11 hits with three walks and one strikeout in four-plus innings.

The loss also ended the Redskins' chances for a division title, while Morgan topped Sheridan to claim the MVL Small School Division outright.

bhannahs@gannett.com

Twitter: @brandonhannahs

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Late surge propels River View past rival Coshocton