RECORDS A CALLED THIRD STRIKE IN THE SIXTH.
BOWLING GREEN CAN EARN DISTRICT’s No. 1 SEED WITH VICTORY TONIGHT
Bowling Green High School’s Dillon Maners understood what was expected.
What his team needed.
And that’s exactly what he delivered.
Maners pitched a complete game on Monday night, scattering five hits to lead Bowling Green to a critical 5-0 victory over crosstown rival Greenwood High School. It was the Purples’ sixth consecutive victory, and it moves Bowling Green closer to the No. 1 seed for the KHSAA 14th District Tournament in two weeks at Warren Central High School.
Bowling Green improved to 13-10 overall and 4-1 in KHSAA 14th play, and while South Warren (16-7, 4-1) has the same district record, they split their regular-season series, with the Purples coming out on top in run differential.
“(Tuesday’s game) is the biggest game of the season,” Maners said afterward. “That’s always the goal, a complete game. (Greenwood) is a very good offensive team. We just wanted to have as many pitchers available as we could, for the second game.”
HIS FOURTH VICTORY IN SIX DECISIONS.
SCORES IN THE SIXTH INNING.
It’s been a challenging season for the Purples, who went 25-10 last year while shortstop/pitcher Patrick Forbes earned Kentucky’s “Mr. Baseball” honors on his way to the University of Louisville.
“Our pitching and defense have done a great job all year long,” BGHS coach Nate Isenberg said. “Our bats are coming along … Dillon was a horse for us last year. He might be the 4th Region Player of the Year. I plan on nominating him.
“It’s been a different kind of season, after last year. Our bats weren’t allowing us to get far ahead in a lot of our games.”
MAKES A LATE-INNING SUBSTITUTION.
PITCHES TO BGHS OUTFIELDER MAX BUCHANON.
Greenwood has been one of the 4th Region’s top-flight teams this season, but the Gators (17-5 overall, 2-3 in the 14th District) have dropped three straight. Greenwood coach Jason Jaggers hasn’t decided on Tuesday night’s starting pitcher, but he’s obviously looking for more offensive production.
The Gators have been shut out in back-to-back games.
“We had opportunities, offensively,” Jaggers said. “Right now, we’re not driving in runs, when we get the chance … Baseball’s a pretty simple game. Throw strikes, make plays in the field, drive in the runs.
“It’s not that complicated.”
PUTS THE BALL IN PLAY IN THE SIXTH.
Greenwood loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth, but Maners got out of that jam before the Purples extended their 2-0 lead with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
“I just tried to get in a rhythm,” Maners said. “Keep them honest with the fastball and breaking pitch. Those late runs really helped.”
Maners’ catcher, BGHS junior Ethan Madison, said the home-plate umpire told him “Dillon was really hitting his spots,” and while the Purples’ defense had just one 1-2-3 inning, they played errorless baseball while finishing with seven hits to the Gators’ five.
Maners earned his fourth victory in six decisions while lowering his ERA to an impressive 1.43. He needed 92 pitches, including 54 that went for strikes, to complete the task at hand.
Maners finished with five strikeouts and two walks. Greenwood’s starting pitcher, freshman Chaze Huff, took his first loss of the season. Huff worked four innings before yielding to Gators relievers Ethan Talley and Cooper Davis.
THE BGHS CATCHING DUTIES WITH DOM DAVIS.
AND DILLON MANERS AFTER MONDAY’s GAME.
Offensively, Maners leads the Purples in batting average (.438), runs (17), walks (22) and doubles (5). He usually plays left field when he isn’t on the mound.
“Dillon’s not a power guy,” Isenberg said. “Most high school kids don’t hit lefties real well. We start four sophomores and a freshman, most nights. Dillon’s really the only kid on our staff who had significant innings pitched last year.”
Bowling Green’s leadoff man, sophomore first baseman Drew Isenberg, went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore infielder Ethan Schallert scored on BGHS teammate Ben Davenport’s single to left field in the fourth, and Max Buchanon and Luke Idlett drove in runs for the Purples before it was over.
Sophomore shortstop Zach Davis had two of the Gators’ five hits.
WERE OUT IN FULL FORCE AT BGHS.
TO GET THE HANG OF BASEBALL GAMES.
