Southeast bats go cold in 5-1 D5 Sectional Final loss to Northwestern

PALMYRA, OH- On Friday evening the #15 seed Southeast Pirates hosted a Division 5 Sectional Final versus the #26 seed Northwestern Huskies from West Salem. Joe Sharish took the mound for the Pirates opposed by Huskies senior Aaron Hales. It was a tough night for the Pirates high powered offense as Hales kept them at bay leading his Huskies to a 5-1 upset win.

Sharish started out strong in the top of the 1st retiring the side in order with the last two coming via strikeout.

Joe Sharish strikes out two in the 1st for the Pirates

In the bottom half Hales would allow a one out single to Bradee Blankenship but no damage as we were scoreless after one.

In the top of the 2nd the Huskies would put two on with one out after Kimble was hit by a pitch followed by a Sigler single. Sharish then made a nice fielders choice out at third that was nearly turned into a double play. He induced another ground ball out to end the threat.

Joe Sharish with the nice defensive play for Southeast in the 2nd

The Pirates would threaten in the bottom half. With two outs Zach Keto lined a single to right. Nate Muccino then drew a walk putting a runner in scoring position. Hales would end the threat with a strikeout of Timothy Parbel and we were still scoreless after two.

Northwestern was able to break through for a run in the top of the 3rd. A lead-off walk and a sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position with one out for the Huskies. Cassady then lined a single to right scoring the first run of the game. The Huskies led 1-0.

Southeast would answer back in the bottom half when lead-off hitter Braedyn Walden smashed a solo homerun over the right field wall to tie it up. They would then look to blow the game open as they loaded the bases with one out following a Bradley Dillon walk, Cohen Richardson bunt single and a Caleb Miller hit by pitch. But Hales would come up with two huge strikeouts to end the inning. We were tied at 1-1 after three.

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The top of the 4th was the turning point in the game. The Huskies would load the bases with no outs following a walk and two straight Pirates fielding errors. Ellerbrock would then execute a sacrifice bunt scoring a run. A fielder’s choice ground out brought home another before Mcie singled home a pair to cap off the 4-run inning. Northwestern would take a 5-1 lead to the bottom half.

The sides were retired in order in the bottom of the 4th and top of the 5th. The Pirates would get a lead-off single by Blankenship in the bottom of the 5th but nothing more. Huskies still led 5-1 after five.

The 6th inning was uneventful for both sides. In the top of the 7th the Huskies would put two on with one out knocking Sharish from the game. Alaunte Massrock would come on and slam the door on any insurance runs keeping it a 5-1 game heading to the bottom of the 7th.

Unfortunately for the Pirates, Hales finished off his impressive complete game with a 1-2-3 innings striking out Dillon to end the game. The Huskies took home the 5-1 win.

Bradee Blakenship had two of the Pirates five hits on the day with the lone run coming on the Walden homer. Hales went the distance allowing only the homerun while striking out 9 in his 7 innings of work.

The Huskies advance to face #3 seed Wooster Triway in the D5 District semifinal on Wednesday.

Southeast Pirates Braedyn Walden & Coach John Kinsey after their 5-1 D5 Sectional loss to Northwestern