Purple Power

• Martins Ferry advances to Thursday's district championship

By RICH GIBSON, Times Leader Sports Writer


These Purple Riders are not for the faint of heart.

Coach Josh Lucas’ resilient Martins Ferry ball club keeps inventing new ways to extend its season.

Twice in Division III sectional play last week at Cambridge, the clock was in the process of striking midnight before Ferry produced seventh inning dramatics enroute to comeback victories against Barnesville and Shenandoah.

Making a district appearance for the first time in 18 seasons Monday at Steubenville’s Vaccaro Field, the Riders, once again, responded like thieves in the night .

A seventh inning sacrifice fly was the difference in a Ferry’s 6-5 knockout of Garaway.

The event’s other semifinal contest matching Indian Valley (21-3) and Union Local (13-11) is scheduled this evening (6:00). Ferry, improving to 16-8, opposes that survivor Wednesday (6:00) for a regional trip to Chillicothe.

“The kids seemed loose coming up here on the bus,” Lucas advised. “They may have been a little tight when the game started, but I think they settled in after that.”

Riders’ senior Freddie “Iron Man” Owens, meanwhile, continues to amaze this postseason — both on the mound and at the plate.

Ferry’s remarkable righthander authored yet another performance to remember Monday. While his pitch count (138) was off the chart, Owens’ bat, again served as a weapon of mass destruction.

“I seemed to get a little stronger (as the game wore on),”Owens offered. “But we won as a team. A lot of guys stepped up with clutch hits tonight.”

For his part, Owens unloaded a majestic third inning, three-run homer and later was responsible for, perhaps, the affair’s most critical hit, a game-tying, two-out, two-strike single in the top of the sixth.

But it was the senior ace’s mound work which impressed Pirates’ skipper Justin Elmore. “Owens really cranked it up there in the seventh. That’s the sign of a real competitor,” he noted. “We didn’t face anyone all spring who threw that hard.”

To be certain, Owens, who compiled seven strikeouts and five walks, benefited from some solid defensive work as well.

Sophomore second baseman Josh Nagel who accounted for the game-winning tally with his seventh inning sac-fly, came up with a dazzling web gem in the second frame, laying out to make a diving stop, then throwing out a Garaway runner from the seat of his pants.

Nagel later doubled and scored Ferry’s first run off a wild pitch. “He’s got to be the best number nine hitter in the valley,” Lucas exclaimed. “I’m reluctant to move Josh out of there. He’s been so productive.”

Also delivering was leadoff hitter Brandon Leonard. The Riders’ junior centerfielder was on base four times via two singles and a pair of walks. He scored two runs. The Purple also received two hits from junior rightfielder Dane Koch.

Sophomore designated hitter Logan Ballint ignited Ferry’s winning rally in the seventh, drilling an opposite field single to right field.

After senior third baseman Matt Masarick advanced pinch runner Zac Menough to third on a base rap, Nagel’s sac-fly to centerfield allowed Menough to score the game-winner.

With Ferry a one-run leader, Garaway centerfielder Ryan Troyer induced a leadoff walk to open the Pirates’ seventh.

But Owens turned out the lights, logging back to back strikeouts before retiring Schrock on a game-ending fly ball which Koch ran down in right field.

Lucas acknowledged with but one day’s rest, Owens would be unavailable for Wednesday’s title tilt. “I wasn’t even sure Freddie could go (today),” Lucas indicated. “But he told me he wanted the ball.”

The Riders registered 10 hits but were also held in check by impressive Pirates’ sophomore starter Spencer Festi who recorded 11 Ks and issued five walks before giving way to reliever Hunter Conkle.

Garaway, with five sophomores in its starting lineup, was limited to five hits.

The Pirates received two singles and a run batted in from designated hitter Kevin Schrock. Troyer doubled home a Pirate teammate and also recorded a steal of home plate. Shortstop Brennan Mullett contributed a single and RBI. The Pirates capped a 16-11 campaign.

Linescore:

Martins Ferry 004 001 1 — 6 10 1

Garaway 101 300 0 — 5 5 0

BATTERIES: Owens and Francis. Festi, Conkle (6) and Hochstetler.

Gibson may be reached at rgibson@timesleaderonline.com