By Chris Valentine
PBR Ohio Scouting Director

LANCASTER, OH – Watterson had their opportunities, but Jonathan Alder’s four-run second inning was too much to overcome.

Watterson senior Andrew Ohl started off the top of the first inning with a line drive to centerfield off Jonathan Alder senior right-handed pitcher Pete Whitmer. After junior Joe Diorio walked to put runners on first and second, sophomore third baseman Jacob Bolton hit a deep drive to centerfield that turned into a sacrifice fly as Ohl moved to third.

Junior Sam Severance followed with a sacrifice fly deep to centerfield, and in the process, Alder junior third baseman Scott Peters cut off the ball and threw to first to pick off Diorio and end the top half of the inning 1-0.

In the second inning, Watterson kept tacking on the runs as senior right fielder Gabe Martin hit an RBI single to put the Eagles on top 2-0.

Watterson sophomore right-handed pitcher Sam Rice cruised through the first inning registered three outs on six pitches, but the bottom of the second proved to be much different.

Jonathan Alder senior Jordan Thomas walked to start the inning. With one out, Peters recorded an infield single, and designated hitter Dan Adams was hit by a pitch. Junior catcher Trent Kaltenbach followed with a bases loaded walk to tie the game at one run apiece.

Then, sophomore shortstop Luke Nees delivered the biggest hit of the game by pulling a 3-2 fastball down the left field line to score two runners and put Jonathan Alder ahead 4-2.

Watterson mounted several threats, including a fifth inning one-out rally. After two consecutive walks and a single to left field by Diorio, Whitmer induced Bolton into a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.

Then, in the sixth inning with one out, Watterson first baseman Greg Jacknewitz walked and sophomore short stop Avery Janning singled to left.

Jonathan Alder head coach Craig Kyle made a call to the bullpen as senior Brad Miller came in relief. He registered the second out of the inning, but once again, Martin came through with an RBI single to bring Watterson within a run of tying the game.

After a scoreless bottom-half of the sixth for Alder, Watterson mounted one last rally.

Ohl collected his second hit of the day with an infield single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Diorio followed with a ground ball to the right side, putting the tying running on third with one out.

With the pressure mounting, Alder’s Miller got ahead 0-2 on Bolton, who hit third for Watterson. After fouling off the third pitch of the at bat, Bolton swung through a 1-2 changeup to make the second out of the inning.

Only one out away from a district title, Miller attacked the cleanup hitter, junior Sam Severance. After throwing a curveball over for strike one, Miller got an off balance swing from Severance, which resulted in a routine fly to the first baseman in foul territory.

Whitmer collected the win for Alder going 5 and 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs while giving up four hits and walking eight. Miller collected the save with 1 and 2/3 innings of scoreless work. He allowed two hits while striking out one.

Rice took the loss for Watterson in 6 innings of work. He allowed four runs, four hits, two walks, and one HBP while striking out five batters. 

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