Middletown vs. Moeller
Pyramid Hill light show preparation
Were you spotted tailgating?
Monroe moves on 13-3
Hornets advance to Division III sectional finals with 13-3 win over Preble Shawnee.
By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer
MONROE — Four must be Monroe's lucky number.
The previous three seasons, the Hornets have been the No. 2 seed in the tournament and lost by one run in their first game.
This year, the Hornets are the No. 4 seed and will play in the sectional championship after defeating Preble Shawnee 13-3 Monday on Kevin Enchelmeyer's fourth hit.
Enchelmeyer, a sophomore, stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth with one out and ripped the first pitch he saw down the third-base line, scoring Josh Hotze, who was pinch running for Nick Davis, who wears jersey No. 4.
"I just wanted to put the ball in play," Enchelmeyer said. "I've really been confident at the plate lately, so I just wanted another opportunity to hit the ball."
His hit ended the game in a run rule.
Monroe jumped on Arrows starter Robby Lakes for five runs in the first inning sending nine guys to the plate.
The Hornets tacked on four more in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth and the game-winner in the fifth.
The Arrows (8-14) used three pitchers with little success at slowing the Hornet bats, but Nick Powell did his best to help his team climb back into the game.
The junior cleanup hitter launched a monster two-run home run in the third inning. The shot appeared to still be going up as it crossed the left-field fence.
Preble Shawnee coach Jamie Bates estimated the blast traveled nearly 400 feet.
"He is a great hitter," Bates said. "He hits with power to all fields. He is part of a nucleus of juniors and sophomores that we will have back next year. Monroe really hit the ball today. We did too, but they found the gaps and we didn't. If they keep playing defense like that and get the pitching, they will make a run in the tournament."
That's exactly what Monroe coach Bob Hunt is hoping will happen, too.
"I think that was the best game we've played all year," Hunt said. "It was so exciting to see us play like that. Those kids did exactly what they needed to do. We've preached 'Do Your Job' to them all season and today they all did their jobs."
C
ontact this reporter at (513)
705-2852
or
sweaver
@
coxohio.com.
