At 7-3 overall and 2-2 in the Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division entering this week, Springfield is still in good shape. It has one of the best pitching staffs in the area with a team ERA of 1.64. Jimmy Powell, Kenny Dixon and Riley Borders have all thrown more than 10 innings, and they all have ERAs under 1.50.
Powell pitched all nine innings in the 3-2 loss to the Elks and the next day at home he almost hit a two-run home run in the third.
“He hit a double that hit the yellow piping at the top of the fence,” Cassell said. “It it falls back, it’s a home run. Instead, it falls in, and it’s a double. We have second and third with no outs, and we don’t score.”
The challenge for the Wildcats — and many weather-plagued area teams — will be getting in all their postponed games. Springfield has 16 games scheduled in the next 21 days, plus part of a game it has to finish with Tecumseh.
Trojans rolling
Southeastern came into this week on a major roll, winners of eight in a row. Entering Monday’s game against Triad, the Trojans were 10-1 and 6-1 in the Ohio Heritage Conference.
Voters in the first Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association poll of the season, released Monday, took notice. At No. 10 in Division IV, the Trojans are the highest-ranked area team.
“We’re playing well, and the kids deserve recognition,” Southeastern coach Rick Woods said. “That’s one of the things htat comes with it. It’s nice to get that recognition, but in the middle of April, it doesn’t mean a whole lot. It’s how you finish up in May.”
Jordan Hitt is 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA in 22 innings. He leads the area with 38 strikeouts. Woods said Hitt’s offseason training with a coach in Columbus is paying off. Hitt developed an off-speed pitch to complement his fastball.
“He’s done a nice job of hiding it,” Woods said. “It looks similar to his fastball.”
State poll
In addition to Southeastern, three area teams received votes in the OHSBCA poll.
• Triad (12-0) is 22nd in Division III.
• Kenton Ridge (9-2) received one vote in D-II and is ranked 29th.
• Springfield (7-3) is 30th in Division I.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.
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