DECATUR - Despite a strong pitching performance and an error-free fielding effort Saturday at the Bellmont Regional, the Tippecanoe Valley baseball team fell just short of a victory.
The Vikings fell 2-1 to the Delta Eagles in the semifinal round of the Bellmont Regional.The game started well for the Vikings, as leadoff hitter Graham Groninger opened the first inning with a double to right field. A line drive past the second baseline by Brody Andrews sent Groninger across the plate, giving the Vikings an early 1-0 advantage.
Valley held that lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when Delta's Greg Heban opened the inning with a double and scored on a single by pitcher Dane Humphrey. Todd Fowler entered the game to pinch run for Humphrey and scored on a double to left field by Clayton Clevenger, putting the Eagles up 2-1.
Zach Prater hit a one-out single in the top of the seventh to give Valley life, but the Vikings' hopes of advancing to the regional final game were dashed when he was stranded at second.
"We just didn't get the hits when we needed them," said Valley coach Scott Backus, whose team finished the season 17-11. "The big thing for us was that there was no consistency one through nine in the lineup. We got guys on base but we were not able to string hits together."
The Vikings had chances to extend their lead in both the fourth and sixth innings, but base-running errors prevented runs from scoring.
In the fourth inning, Valley had runners on first and third when Prater took a long lead off first base with two outs on the scoreboard. Humphrey made a quick move to first, throwing Prater out and ending the inning.
In the sixth inning, the Vikings had runners (Groninger and Keith Koser) on first and second with one out when Andrews sent a long fly ball to right field. Groninger and Koser watched as the ball was caught and took off for the next base as the right fielder threw the ball in. The Viking runners looked to be safe on second and third when Humphrey tossed the ball to second base. The umpire said Groninger did not tag second and called him out, ending the inning for Valley.
Freshman ace James Hackworth sent 13 Eagles to the bench in six innings, striking out two batters in each inning except the fifth, when he struck out three batters. He allowed six hits and two earned runs, walking only one batter.
The statistics for Delta's pitcher Dane Humphrey were not as stellar, but he pitched seven strong innings with four strikeouts and just one earned run.
Four Viking batters had hits off Humphrey: Groninger's game-opening double, followed by Andrews' single in the first; a single by Koser in the fifth; and Prater's single in the sixth.
Clevenger led the Eagles with two hits, a single in the second and a double in the sixth.
This marked the last game for five Valley seniors: T.J. Bauters, Robert Bauters, Groninger, Koser and Prater.
Backus praised each of the seniors for their contributions to the program and said, "They will be missed."
The Vikings hope this game will help the underclassmen prepare for a strong future.
"The underclassmen got a taste of what it takes to win at the next level," Backus said. "We wil be young next year, and we will have some spots to fill."
Fifth-ranked Leo beat Norwell 26-5 in Saturday's other semifinal game.
Leo and Delta are scheduled to play in the regional championship game tonight at 7 p.m.
DELTA 2, T. VALLEY 1
TV 100 000 0 - 1 4 0
D 000 002 0 - 2 6 1
Valley pitcher - James Hackworth (L, 6-3) 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 13 K to Brody Andrews
Delta pitcher - Dane Humphrey (W) 7 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 4 K, 3 BB to Brooks Medaris
Valley hitters - Graham Groninger 1 for 3; Keith Koser 1 for 2, RBI; Zach Prater 1 for 3
Delta hitters - Greg Heban 1 for 3, Brad Benbow 1 for 3; Humphrey 1 for 2, RBI; Clay Clevenger 2 for 3, RBI; Cody Garrett 1 for 2
