Allen East's bats wake up in sectional final victory

PERRY TOWNSHIP - Allen East baseball coach Bill Yetman had a feeling his team was due to start hitting the baseball.

And he was right.

In Tuesday's Division IV sectional final game at Perry, the Mustangs pounded 12 hits en route to an 8-2 victory over Upper Scioto Valley.

With the win, Allen East (12-9) advances to the Shawnee district on May 21. The Mustangs will face the winner of Thursday's match up between Columbus Grove and Leipsic.

The game was tied at 2-2 after two innings. The Mustangs scored three runs in the third and then added three more in the fifth to pull away.

Yetman said Tuesday's offensive performance was just what his team needed.

"Hitting is contagious," Yetman said. "We haven't hit the ball all that well, lately.

"Early on (Tuesday's game), I think there were some jitters. But, we settled down and started to hit the ball."

The Mustangs also had a strong showing on the pitching mound.

Nick Searfoss started for Allen East. Searfoss worked five innings, before being lifted for Aaron Swaney.

Searfoss gave up the two runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking three. He threw a total of 66 pitches.

Swaney, who started behind the plate, pulled off his catching gear and pitched the final two innings. Swaney struck out three and did not give up a hit.

Yetman said his plan was to give Swaney a chance to close out the game.

"Nick did a nice job," Yetman said. "We knew if we could get five innings out of (Searfoss) ... then, Aaron could come in and get the job done."

Allen East had five players collect two hits apiece - Larry Jackson, Greg Patterson, Levi Hoy, Nick McDorman and Swaney.

USV (7-13) used three different pitchers. Jake Nelson pitched the first 2 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits, while striking out one and walking two. He also hit two batters.

USV coach Wayne Schneider said Allen East did a nice job of capitalizing on key hits.

"In high school baseball, it's about momentum. When it comes, you have to be able to grab on to it," Schneider said.

USV got the early lead, scoring a run in the top half of the first. Krummrey, who ledoff with a walk, eventually came around to score thanks to an errant pickoff throw to second base.

Allen East answered in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs on three hits. Jackson and Patterson both had RBI singles.

USV scored its second run in the second inning. Mullett's fly ball to center was long enough to get Brandon Overs in from third. Overs ledoff the inning with a walk.

The Mustangs got to Nelson in the third, scoring three runs on three hits. Nick McDorman drove in two runs with a single to center, while Searfoss was walked with the bases loaded.

In the fifth, the Mustangs pulled away, scoring three more runs on five hits.

Schneider said despite getting down, his squad still battled the full seven innings.

"We hung in there," Schneider said. "We hit the ball all right. We didn't strike out a whole lot. But, Allen East is a good team."