RICHMOND, Ind. – Hagerstown’s offense finally hit the gas pedal on Monday as the top-ranked Tigers defeated Union City 10-0 in five innings to win the Class 1A sectional on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium.
“We had a great round of batting practice before we came over to McBride,” Hagerstown Head Coach Brad Catey said. “I had a good feeling all day long that they were going to show up.”
“We were really aggressive at the plate and had good pitch selection and hit the ball hard,” Catey added. “Good things happen when you do that.”
Catey also praised pitcher Drew Pyle, who was credited with a no-hitter against the Indians (10-12).
“Our defense has been there,” Catey said. “Drew and Trey (Kelley) and our other pitchers have done an excellent job of keeping us in games. We said sooner or later the bats would have to carry us.”
In the three games in the sectional, Pyle and Kelley combined to not allow a run in the event.
“We can make some noise the rest of the way,” Catey said of his two starters.
Hagerstown upgraded its schedule this season to prepare for the tourney as the Tigers looked to win their 10th sectional in school history, including the last two in a row.
“We knew we were going to see everyone’s number one come tournament time,” Catey said.
The Tigers (22-3) move on to meet Attica (11-13) in the regional at Carroll (Flora) on Saturday at 1 p.m. Attica won 6-2 over Turkey Run on Monday in the Riverton Parke Sectional.
Sixth-ranked and defending state champion Daleville (18-9) and No. 3 Rossville (21-8) square off in the first affair at 11 a.m. The championship tilt is set for 8 p.m.
Kory Beeson led the Tigers with three hits. Kelley had a pair of triples to drive in two runs.
Owen Golliher and Cameron Purtha also had two hits each.
Pyle threw 61 pitches in the win with 10 strikeouts.
Cameron Luster went two innings for the Indians, while Jacob Fulk worked the last three frames.