(Thursday, May 7th 2015): HILLTOP—As North Central’s buses ventured south to Hilltop High School, coach Eric Smeltzer and the Eagles prepared to take down the Cadets for a chance at another win in the BBC conference; however, Tony Gerig and the Cadets were keen on keeping the Eagles from swooping in to steal a change at a home victory. Hilltop’s Quinn Smith would take on North Central’s Dakota Athy on the mound for Thursday night’s showdown.
After two scoreless innings, the scoreboards changed at the top of the third as North Central scored the first run of the game; however, Hilltop was quick to reciprocate with a point of their own in the bottom of the third as well. The Cadets then went on to score two more runs in the following inning to lead 3-1 as they continually managed to connect with the ball offensively.
North Central, unable to commandeer any offensive authority, continued to falter against Hilltop’s Quinn Smith and the Cadet defense. Smith would go on to pitch a full game against the Eagles giving up only three hits while striking out six and walking one. Hilltop sealed the victory after compiling three additional runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win 6-1.
North Central’s Josh Sawyer led the team offensively with a double and a single, with teammate David Pinc collecting a single for the night. Hilltop’s Colin Sabins had an admirable at-bat performance in the game with a double, a single, and an RBI. Jalen Towers also had a double on the night as teammates Nic Schieber and Zach Roehrs both drove in two RBIs and amassed a single.
Quinn Smith would obtain the win for the Cadets while Dakota Athy accumulated the loss for the Eagles. Athy pitched for four innings allowing four runs on five hits while striking out two batters and walking two. Senior Jordan Bailey would try and close the game for the Eagles, pitching two innings and allowing two runs on two hits and walking two batters.