BARNESVILLE − A fast start, clutch insurance runs, and a high-wire escape by senior ace Dylan Blon added up to a successful tournament debut for top-seeded Barnesville. The Shamrocks opened their OHSAA Division V district semifinal run on Tuesday, May 26 at Barnesville Memorial Park with a crisp 4-1 victory over No. 8 seed Union Local by answering the Jets’ biggest threat with championship level poise to advance.
With the win, Barnesville improves to 20-7 on the season and punches its ticket to the Division V district championship game, while the Jets close out their season with a final mark of 12-11.
“We were happy to get back on the field tonight, and get the win to advance,” Barnesville head coach D.J. Butler offered. “But we need to execute better, it feels like we left some runs out on the field tonight. We didn’t get our bunts down tonight, we have to be better. But that gives us something to work on tomorrow in practice…we will get it fixed.”
Fast start for the ‘Rocks
The Shamrocks wasted little time making themselves at home in their OHSSA postseason opener, jumping out to quick 2-0 lead in the early frames. In the bottom of the first, Blake Burkhart plated the game’s first run with an deep RBI sacrifice fly ball. An inning later, Jack Anderson kept the momentum rolling by collecting an RBI base hit in the bottom of the second to double the early Barnesville cushion.
The High-Wire act
The pesky Jets refused to go away quietly, finally breaking through against Blon in the top of the third. Union Local’s Colby Carpenter stroked an RBI single to pull the Jets within 2-1. Momentum completely shifted as Union Local proceeded to load the bases with just one out, threatening to break the game wide open.
But Barnesville’s crafty lefty stepped up when the stakes were the highest. Blon dug deep, manufacturing a huge effort to slam the door shut on the UL rally, leaving the runners stranded and keeping the Shamrocks in front by that 2-1 margin.
“Dylan just bulled his neck and dug deep to get out of that tight spot,” Coach Butler said of the game-defining escape. “Parker Sobutka made a great play at third to handle that tough hop and gun that runner out at the plate. That took some pressure off Dylan and he set down the last kid to get out of it…just a great job right there.”
Immediate Insurance
Energized by Blon’s effort, the Barnesville bats immediately went back to work in the home half of the third to provide some crucial breathing room. Sobutka shifted from defensive hero to offensive spak, slapping an RBI single, and Gunner Dudzik followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, pushing the Barnesville lead out to 4-1 after three full innings of play.
Blon goes the distance
From there, Blon cruised the rest of the way. The senior ace collected the pitching victory with a stellar seven inning, complete game outing. Blon scattered just four hits and allowing just the single run with three strikeouts and walking two to seal the district semifinal victory.
Familiar foe awaits with regional berth on the line
The celebration will be short-lived for the Shamrocks, as a familiar rival stands between them and a trip to the OHSAA regionals.
Barnesville will face off against No. 4 seed Martins Ferry in the Division V district championship game on Thursday, May 27 at 5 p.m. at Buckeye Trail High School.
The title matchup marks the fourth time this season these two squads will cross paths on the diamond. While Barnesville holds the upper hand after winning two of the first three meetings, everything resets on Thursday with a Division V district championship trophy and a regional berth on the line.
“It feels like in my 20 years here at Barnesville, it always comes down to Ferry and us every year at the end,” Butler joked. “No secrets, we know each other well…should be a good one on Thursday night.”
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Top-seeded Shamrocks advance to face Martins Ferry for D-V district title