Staff writer
Taylor Heidebrecht’s night at the top of the order for the Marion High School baseball team was indicative of the team’s struggles against Hillsboro Friday in Hillsboro.
Although he reached base three times in the second game, he did so without recording a hit. He hit three pop flies to each Hillsboro outfielder in the first game, an 8-3 loss.
In the second game, he grounded out to short in the third inning. It appeared that Heidebrecht’s luck was turning. He walked to score Corey Seacat in the fifth to put the Warriors up 6-4 in the top of the fifth inning.
After Hillsboro regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth and expanded it to 8-6 in the sixth, Heidebrecht again came up with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh. As he had in six previous at-bats, Heidebrecht hit the ball hard. Hillsboro third baseman Ben Gardner had to make an acrobatic diving catch to snare the line drive, but he subsequently tagged third base to end the game, 8-6.
Coach Roger Schroeder said that Heidebrecht was too hard on himself after the game.
“He squared up the ball all day long,” Schroeder said of Heidebrecht. “He put the barrel on the ball. I’m just trying to keep him positive.”
As with the rest of the Warriors, Heidebrecht played well on defense. He threw out a runner at second base from his position in right field in the first game. Cole Lewman also made an over-the-shoulder catch running backward into left center field on a ball hit by Lucas Sinclair. Austin Pedersen made a diving catch in center field on a ball hit by Dylan Delk in the first game.
Earlier in the fifth inning, the wind blew a pop fly that seemed like an easy out on the second base side of the pitching mound back into the middle of the infield. In a heads-up play, third baseman Jacob Harper allowed the ball to roll out of bounds without a Warrior touching the ball.
Marion also pitched well in both games. Grif Case started the first game for Marion. He went six innings with six strikeouts. However, he walked five batters and allowed eight runs. Case kept the Warriors in the game through five innings. Hillsboro scored its first three runs on a ground out by Ben Gardner, a sacrifice bunt by Martin, and an error.
Already having a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Trojans scored four runs to pull away.
“I told Grif after the game, it was my fault,” Roger Schroeder said. “I left him out there a batter or two too long. His pitch count wasn’t that high. I kind of went with my gut. He’s given us nothing but good innings.”
Ethan Hett started the second game for Marion. He pitched four innings, giving up 6 runs while only striking out one. Hett was in line for the win until he gave up a 2-run home run to Ben Gardner in the fifth inning.
However, the Warriors did not light up the stat sheet with hits. Although Hillsboro pitcher Delk threw a complete game with four strikeouts and no walks, Marion managed three hits in the contest. Pedersen went 2-for-2 with a run. David Helmer went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
The Warriors recorded five hits in the second game off of Hillsboro pitchers Aaron Bina, Delk, and Gardner. Cole Lewman went 2-for-3 with a run. Caleb Williams went 1-for-3 with a run. Matt Sprowls went 1-for-3 with a run.
Marion hitters worked counts in the middle innings of the second game against Bina, drawing several three-ball at-bats. The Warriors drew nine walks in the second game.
“The runs we were able to get were given to us,” Schroeder said.
With the losses the Warriors are 10-8 for the season, but the worst they can finish before regionals is .500, 10-10.
“Baseball is a momentum type game, and we’re reeling right now,” Schroeder said. “I told the guys, ‘I’m not OK with being OK’”
The Warriors played Tuesday against Hoisington in Marion. Regionals begin May 16 in Marion.