HILLSBORO — Unable to gain consistent offense for seven innings, Hillsboro Post 129 was held to one hit and three walks, as the Post 25 Aces of Washington C.H. broke their 8-game losing streak, defeating Hillsboro 4-0.

By STEPHEN FORSHA

The Times-Gazette

HILLSBORO — Unable to gain consistent offense for seven innings, Hillsboro Post 129 was held to one hit and three walks, as the Post 25 Aces of Washington C.H. broke their 8-game losing streak, defeating Hillsboro 4-0.

The game was a battle on the mound, as both pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, with Post 129’s Ben Harmon gaining nine strikeouts and Washington’s Kyle Brickles finishing with eight.

Brickles earned the win on the mound for the Aces, as he allowed no runs on three walks and one hit in seven innings. Brickles faced 24 batters.

“Kyle (Brickles) pitched excellent against a good Hillsboro team,” Post 25 head coach Rhett Butler said. “Going seven innings and giving up one hit, you can’t do much better than that.”

Harmon, who faced 31 batters, was charged with the loss. Harmon gave up four runs on seven hits, two walks and hit one batter.

“Except for the couple pitches he grooved, Ben pitched a good game,” Post 129 assistant coach Ritchie Butler said. “We just didn’t get him any offensive support tonight.”

Post 129 didn’t have any base runners reach third base.

Both teams were held scoreless after the first inning, with the Aces stranding two runners and Post 129 going down in order.

After each pitcher gained two strikeouts in their half of the second inning, again with the Aces leaving one runner stranded and Hillsboro retiring in order, the look of the game turned in favor of Post 25 in the top of the third.

Jake Clay led off the inning with a stand up triple, after the ball rolled to the center field wall on an errant diving attempt for the out.

Theron Carter didn’t waste anytime knocking in the run, as the No. 2 hitter singled for his second hit of the game, scoring Clay for a 1-0 lead. Carter’s first hit was a double in the first inning.

After a single from Nathan Hock, Carter made the score 2-0, scoring on a wild pitch.

In the top of the fourth Shane Ferrell led off with a double for Post 25, scoring on a two-out double by Clay. Clay made the score 4-0 as Carter knocked his teammate in with a double.

Post 129 threatened in the bottom of the third forcing two walks, but both runners were left on base.

Hillsboro gained their first and only hit in the bottom of the fourth off the bat of Travis Orr. Orr’s hit was a two-out single.

“(Kyle) Brickles kept us off-balanced at the plate,” Ritchie Butler said. “We hit a couple balls hard, but we couldn’t string hits together.

“They (Post 25) got hits when they needed them and we didn’t.”

Carter led Post 25 at the plate going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two doubles and a single. Clay finished 2-for-3 with a triple, double and walk. Clay had one RBI.

Hock finished 1-for-3 with one base on balls. Ferrell went 1-for-2 and was hit by a pitch.

Post 25 left five runners on base. Hillsboro stranded four.

“This game is a good way to break a losing streak,” Rhett Butler said. “Theron Carter and Jake Clay is a good 1-2 punch for us.”

Post 25 stands at 6-13 overall, 4-3 in the SCOL. The Aces will host Waverly tonight at Washington Senior High School at 6 p.m.

Hillsboro stands at 5-10 overall, 1-3 in the SCOL. Post 129 will host Chillicothe Post 62 Thursday at Shaffer Park, with a first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.

SCORE BY INNINGS

POST 25 — 002 200 0 — 4 1 0

POST 129 — 000 000 0 — 0 1 0

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