Southeast District Division III District Semifinal
No. 6 Minford 12, No. 18 Westfall 2 (6 innings)
CHILLICOTHE — Minford got out in front early and held Westfall off the base paths to build up an early lead on the way to a 12-2 win in a Division III district semifinal Thursday at Paints Stadium.
Two hit batters and a walk loaded the bases for the Falcons (19-6) in the first and then a wild pitch allowed a run to score.
Minford added four runs in the second inning on two bases-loaded walks and a two-run single.
Two singles and an error loaded the bases for Minford in the third. An RBI single and a sacrifice fly brought in two more runs for a 7-0 Falcon lead.
Westfall (9-15) got its first baserunner in the fifth inning when Bryce Wickline had a one-out triple. Brady Mullins followed that with a single to score Wickline.
Minford added two in the bottom of the fifth coming off an error and a sacrifice fly.
Trent Walters led off the sixth with a single for the Mustangs and Brendan Biegler followed with a double. Walters was able to tag and score on a sacrifice fly Noah Stonerock, making the score 9-2.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, an error brought in two more runs for Minford and kept the inning going.
The Falcons then drew a walk and Cam Thacker singled to left to bring Grant Wheeler across the plate to make the score 12-2 and put the mercy rule into effect, bringing the game to an end.
Brenden Tuttle started for the Mustangs and lasted 1.2 innings. He gave up five runs on two hits while walking four and striking out three.
Stonerock pitched four innings in relief. He allowed seven runs (all unearned) on nine hits with three walks and a strikeout.
Thacker pitched all six innings for the Falcons. He gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits, did not issue a walk and struck out three.
No. 6 Minford returns to Chillicothe Friday to play No. 1 seeded Wheelersburg for the district championship at 5 p.m.
