by Richard Skinner, NKY Enquirer
Ryle falls in first round of state baseball tournament
LEXINGTON – The Ryle baseball team’s offense had been potent
almost all season, but it never could get untracked in the first round of the
state tournament on Tuesday night.
Ryle, which entered Tuesday’s game against Harrison County
averaging 7.8 runs per game, managed just three hits – all singles – off
Harrison County senior starter Brandon Kendall and fell, 4-1, at Whitaker Bank
Ballpark.
Ryle (32-8) was making its first state tournament appearance
since 2007, while Harrison County is seeking its fifth state title, all since
1993, with the most recent coming in 2010.
Ryle had scored less than three runs in just three of its 40
games this season and had scored five runs or more, which would have been
enough to win Tuesday’s game, 33 times.
“I’d say 90 percent of it was we were nervous,” said senior
center fielder Thomas Baumann, who had one of the three hits and also reached
on an error. “We’d never been here before and never been in this situation.
We’d faced pitchers like him all year, but we just couldn’t put it together
today. It’s a tough loss. It’s a big disappointment based on what we had to
done all year not to get runs across or put hits on the board.”
Ryle coach Pat Roesel was quick to credit Kendall, who
reached 85 mph a few times with his fastball and had good command of his curve.
Kendall, who entered the game with a 5-1 record and 1.63 ERA, went the
distance, walking three, striking out seven and the run he allowed was
unearned.
“He was the difference maker tonight and we didn’t help
ourselves either,” said Ryle coach Pat Roesel. “He was as good as we’ve seen
this year. He was spotting his fastball well and he threw his curve ball for a
strike when he wanted to do it and kept us off balance.”
Harrison County (25-7) got all the runs it needed when it
scored three times in the bottom of the second inning off Ryle senior starter
Justin Hoard, who entered the game with a 10-1 record and 2.09 ERA. All three
runs scored with two outs, the first on a bases-loaded single by leadoff batter
Robbie Stroub and then two more when Kendall’s sharp grounder into the hole
that was stopped on diving attempt by Ryle senior shortstop Tyler Lonnemann,
who then knocked the ball into short left field as he tried to scramble to his
feet.
Hoard allowed just two hits over the next three-plus innings
before being pulled after surrendering a leadoff single to designated hitter
Zach Kinsey to start the sixth inning. Senior left-hander Tyler Mason relieved
and after getting an out a sacrifice bunt and a second on fly ball, Harrison
County scored Kinsey’s pinch-runner, Jordan Riley, on an error.
“After the second inning Justin settled in,” said Roesel. “I
wish it hadn’t taken the second inning to do that, but he was lights out after
that.”
Ryle scored its only run of the game in the third when Dylan
Plvan singled with one out, Jake Ashley walked and after both runners advanced
on a passed ball, Lonnemann knocked home Plvan with a ground out to second.
The Raiders also had two runners on with one out in the
fourth when Mason walked and Baumann singled, but Kendall struck out junior
first baseman Tom Deters and junior right fielder Eric Clarkson to end the
threat. Deters did have two outstanding defensive plays, including starting a
3-6-3 double play that ended the first inning and Clarkson made a headlong
diving catch to save a run in the sixth.
“We didn’t have too many opportunities so it would have been
nice to capitalize on that opportunity,” said Roesel. “The bottom line was he
just buckled down and got us. You just have to give him credit.”
Ryle did have a baserunner in each of the final three
innings, but the first was erased when a hit-and-run turned into a 9-3 double
play, the second was erased on a caught stealing and the final one was erased
on a 4-6-3 double play.
“It was definitely a great feeling to get here,” said
Baumann. “That was greatest feeling of all senior year to get to state, but it
was just a big disappointment we lost, because we thought we had a chance.”
The Raiders lose 14 seniors off this year’s team, including
seven of the 10 who started Tuesday’s game.
“I was very proud of what our kids had done,” said Roesel,
who is the only baseball coach Ryle has ever had in its 21-year history. “They
broke a ton of school records and had the second-most wins in history of the
school, so I’m proud. They’re obviously disappointed in the outcome. I think
they felt like we were capable of going further, so it’s bittersweet. After 25
years it hasn’t been so sweet yet.”
Harrison County 4, Ryle 1
WP-Kendall (6-1, 7 Ks). LP-Hoard (10-2, 6 Ks). Hitting
Leaders: HC-Kendall 2-3, 2 RBI; Kinsey 2-2. Records: Ryle 32-8, Harrison County
25-7.
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