By Chris Rutz

CINCINNATI, OH-  In our second Division II District matchup, the Wyoming Cowboys had a late game rally come up short as the Monroe Tigers edged them out 5-4.

Monroe sent out junior right hander, Zach York to face Wyoming’ s senior, Micheal Kelly.

York started off strong in the first after stranding a runner at second with a timely strikeout and a groundball on a rollover.

Monroe’s two out hitting plated the game’s first run after York walked and swiped a bag eventually being brought in on senior Austin Calkins’ line drive to right field. Monroe jumped to an early 1-0 lead entering the second.

In the top of the second, York was able to get three straight groundouts bringing  his team right back up to the plate.

A leadoff walk hurt Wyoming in the bottom of the second when a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position. Sophomore, Cheyne Carpenter singled up the middle bringing the first of two runs that scored this inning. The second run scored on a Wyoming throwing error that stretched the Monroe lead to 3-0 entering the top of the third.

Wyoming’s lead man, junior Parker Chalmers reached base and then stole a base in the top of the third. Unfortunately for Wyoming, they were unable to do anything with it.

In the bottom of the third, Monroe had a big time threat when they loaded the bases. An odd sequence of events led to scoring the one run.

After a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles by sophomore, Roman Rothewell and senior, Brice Cable, a base runners interference on a chopper to second base forced the first out of the inning with all of the base runners to returning to their previous bags.

Despite a Wyoming throwing error allowing another run to score, the new pitcher, junior Tucker Marty and Wyoming would escape the inning giving up only one run after picking off the runner on third and getting another groundout. The score was now  4-0 entering the fourth inning looking entirely too far out of reach for Wyoming.

A scoreless fourth inning for both teams brought us into the final three frames with Monroe seeming to be in control up 4-0.

In the top of fifth, Wyoming showed some life and making the game closer than many of the fans in attendance could have imagined with this big rally.

Senior Will Marty’s double in the gap scored Parker Chalmers from first base as he was moving on the pitch. A walk followed by back-to-back singles by junior Connor Eldridge and Tucker Marty bringing Wyoming within a run trailing 4-3.

With a runner on third and one out, a suicide squeeze by Wyoming’s starting pitcher Michael Kelly tied the game up 4-4.

Marty cruised through the bottom of the fifth with two strikeouts of his own carrying the tie into the last two innings.

After setting Wyoming down in order in the top of the sixth, Monroe manufactured a run with two down in the bottom half to take the lead. After junior Adam Parks singled, his speed caused some problems leading to an errant throw on his stolen base attempt allowing him to advance to third. Junior Troy Beck displayed some major grit as he drove Parks in for the go ahead two out RBI.

In the top of the seventh, Monroe turned to junior right-handed closer Jake Mitchell for the final three outs delivering for his team. Mitchell sat Wyoming down with three straight groundouts allowing Monroe to advance to the regional championship against No. 14 Tipp City Tippecanoe.

To view scouting notes from this game, please visit the Ohio High School Scouting Blog. The blog gets updated throughout the week.

To discuss this game, please visit our partner JJHuddle.

Linescore

Wyoming 0000400  4

Monroe    102101-   5

 

Notable Pitchers

Winnings Pitcher- ’15 York- 6 IP, 5 hits, 3 Ks,3 ER

Losing Pitcher- ’15 Marty- 3 1/3 IP, 4 hits, 2 Ks, 2 ER

Other-Save- Monroe ’15 Mitchell- 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H

Notable Hitters

Wyoming- ’15 Parks (single, 2 SB), ’14 Marty(double, RBI)

Monroe- ’15 Parks (single, 2 SB),’15  Cockins (2 singles, 2 RBI), ’15 Carpenter (single, RBI)