BASEBALL: Tigers split SCA games last week

The Tigers entered this week 6-10 overall and 4-1 in the SCA.

This week Salem was scheduled to host league foe Houston Monday, then play a non-conference game at Sullivan today (Tuesday). Saturday, Salem is to play at SCA rival Willow Springs. The Tigers are also scheduled to participate in the Licking JV Tournament Saturday.

Salem 2, Ava 0: A two-run single by senior Baylor Petty in the top of the seventh inning was all the game’s scoring.

After Petty gave himself the lead, he shut down the Ava Bears in the bottom of the seventh to gain the pitching victory with a distance-going gem.

Petty threw a seven-inning shutout, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out 10.

He matched goose eggs with Ava pitching for six innings. Salem scattered seven hits – two by Petty and one each by senior Elijah Wethy, freshman Kaiden DuBois, freshman Karsen Barred, senior Josh Arzt and senior Andrew Christesen. Barred stole a base.

Salem also won the JV game 12-4. The Salem JV squad put up six runs in the top of the second inning, four more in the third and ended its scoring with two in the fifth and final inning.

Jim Barton had a double, single and three RBI while Thomas McDonald had a double and three RBI and Trethan Richter had two hits and three runs scored for the Tiger JV team. Bronson Crocker was the winning pitcher, allowing three hits and a walk over five innings while fanning eight.

Mtn. Grove 8, Salem 7 (8 inn.): The Tigers fell one run short in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Mountain Grove Panthers tallied two runs in the top of the first inning, one in the third, two in the fourth and one in the sixth. Salem countered with single runs in the bottom of the first, second and third innings; added two more in the fifth, and tied the game 6-6 with a run in the sixth. A scoreless seventh frame followed, forcing extra innings.

Mountain Grove got what proved to be the winning runs with two in the top of the eighth. Salem cut its deficit by plating a run in the bottom of the eighth before recording the final out and falling a run short.

The Panthers outhit Salem 11-8.

Petty had three hits for the Tigers, while Barred had a double, single and two RBI; Wethy had a hit and two RBI; Garrett Connell had a hit, RBI and two runs scored, and senior Kody Crocker and junior Collin Heavin each had a hit and scored a run.

Barred was the losing pitcher in relief. Crocker and Barred each tossed four innings.

Mountain Grove also won the JV game 5-3. The JV Panthers scored two runs in the top of the first inning, one in the second and two in the fifth. All three of the Tiger JV runs came in the third inning.

Salem had just two hits in the JV game, from Richter and Brenden Hanger.

Isaac Westerman, Heavin and Richter all pitched for Salem.