Defending champion Oran advances to district title game

sports@standard-democrat.com

ORAN -- Highlighted by a go-ahead, three-run rally in the fourth inning, the defending state champion Oran Eagles kicked off their title defense on Tuesday with a 7-3 win over Bell City in the Class 1, District 2 semifinals.

"We knew they have some really, really good young players at Bell City," Oran head coach Kody Campbell said. "I've been watching their scores all year long and been seeing that they've played a ton of close games. They just haven't been able to really get over that hump.

"We knew we were going to get their best shot and our guys responded well. We handled it very business-like in our approach. We got down early in the first and nothing changed. We came back and put up two runs right there in the bottom of the inning to take the lead."

After battling to a 3-3 tie going into the fourth, the Eagles got a big lift in the bottom of the inning thanks to some small ball by the bottom of the order. No. 7 hitter Tanner McVay started things off with a line drive to left field before back-to-back bunt singles from Dustin Gebhardt and Preston Hahn loaded the bases.

Leadoff hitter Seth Ressel drove in the go-ahead run with a fly ball to center before a Ben Heuring double made it 5-3. Jacob Priggel hit a grounder to short to cap the rally, sending Hahn home from third.

"We got two bunt singles there in the fourth when we scored three runs from our eight and nine hitters," Campbell said. "That's huge to get the bases loaded for the top of the order. We were able to cash all three of those runs in. That was a big inning for us there."

One more insurance run in the sixth, off a Heuring sacrifice fly, made up the final as the Eagles set up a rematch in the championship game against Advance.

As big as the three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth was, Oran got an equally impressive stand in the top of the frame.

Bell City opened by putting a pair of runners on before advancing them to second and third base with one out. Just when it looked like they might take the lead, however, a hard hit liner to short was caught by shortstop Seth Ressel, who stepped on second for an unassisted, inning-ending double play.

Ressel's play kept the game 3-3 and allowed Eagles rally in the home half of the frame to put them of top.

"The big game break I feel like was in the fourth inning," Cubs' head coach Justin Simpher said. "A senior comes up with the infield in and hits a ball hard that could have drove in two runs if it gets through. they catch it and get a double play.

"It just kind of takes the wind out of your sails and who knows what happens that inning and how the momentum keeps going (if that gets through)."

Oran got a hit from eight of nine starters to outhit Bell City 8-7 in the contest. Heuring had their lone extra-base, a double, while driving in two runs and drawing a walk.

Bobby Wright and Nate Finney had two hits each for the Cubs, included a pair of doubles by Wright.

Picking up the win was Hunter Schlosser. He went six innings where he allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out six. Chance Tenkhoff pitched a perfect seventh to close things out.

Schlosser's effectiveness allowed the Eagles to save their ace, Ressel, for the title game while having a fresh Tenkhoff in reserve. Ressel was warming up mid-game in case he needed to make an appearance, but Oran's three-run outburst allowed the team to stick with Schlosser.

"We were ready to go with Seth or Chance either way," Campbell said. "I have full confidence in both of them. Obviously we'd like to have Seth fully rested for tomorrow, but one inning wouldn't have hurt him either way. You can't leave your bullets in the gun in single elimination."

Oran will face the Hornets today in the championship game at 4 p.m. at Oran High School. Last year, it was the Eagles besting Oak Ridge 6-5 in nine innings in the title game on their way to the Class 1 championship.

Bell City 102 000 0 - 3

Oran 201 301 x - 7

WP -- Hunter Schlosser. LP -- Bobby Wright. Multiple hitters: (B) Nate Finney 2-4, Bobby Wright 2-3. 2B -- (B) Wright 2; (O) Ben Heuring.