JETS GROUNDED

• Indian Valley gets best of UL again

By RICH GIBSON, Times Leader Sports Writer


Crash and burn.

That was the unfortunate fate suffered by Union Local’s Jets whose Division III district semifinal appearance resulted in a 13-3 setback to Indian Valley, Tuesday evening at Steubenville’s Vaccaro Field.

While underclass-dominated Union Local bows out at 13-12, the now 22-3 Braves prepare to face 16-8 Martins Ferry this evening (6:00) with a regional berth on the line.

A VAST majority of the Jets’ undoing was of the self-inflicted variety. UL was guilty of five fielding errors leading to no fewer than 11 unearned runs.

Additionally, what offense UL was able to muster was seriously hindered by having three runners picked off base.

“We’re not into making excuses and we won’t do it now,” offered Jets’ skipper Richard Mercer.

“The mistakes we made here tonight I might expect on day one — not in our 25th game of the season. (At this point), you have to be past all that.

“You’d like to think allowing just two earned runs gives you a chance in any game, but that definitely wasn’t the case tonight. It’s very disappointing.”

Tuesday’s encounter was scoreless through two and a half frames with Jets’ senior Cory Carpenter facing Indian Valley southpaw Matt Wheeler.

Carpenter issued a leadoff walk to Wheeler in the last of the third. Ten batters and six runs later, the Jets were rapidly losing altitude.

Second baseman Logan Gray doubled home Wheeler. Carpenter then recorded two straight outs before the wheels came off.

A hit batter and a damaging error on what should have been an inning-ending ground ball resulted in a gift tally.

Braves’ first baseman Bobby Hall made it hurt even more when he hammered a two-run single to center.

Another base knock and a RBI two-bagger by number nine hitter Logan Cozart capped the uprising and made for a 6-0 lighting.

To their credit, the Jets quickly refueled, slicing the deficit in half via a three-run fourth frame.

Sophomore Darby Waller reached on an infield hit and Carpenter induced a base on balls before cleanup man Michael Michelli clubbed a double to the fence in left field, driving home both runners.

After catcher Mark Thompson singled, a Justin Curry ground ball brought home Michelli. The rally continued as Zac Carrel reached following a strike three wild pitch.

But seconds later, Wheeler picked off the Jets’ sophomore and order had been restored.

Indian Valley then retaliated in a big way, this time parading a dozen batters to the plate during a seven-run bottom of the fourth.

UL again aided the Braves with two more errors to go with five hits. Hall singled home another teammate and Alex Knecht delivered a two-run single.

UL mounted a final fifth inning threat with freshman Myron Jellison and Carpenter reaching base before Braves’ coach Shannon McComb opted to bring on senior ace Brian Gasser who recorded a game-ending strikeout, his 104th punchout of the spring.

Martins Ferry will be facing the talented Gasser this evening who brings in a 9-1 record and 1.50 ERA.

Tonight’s victor moves on the regional play next week at Chillicothe.

Line score:

Union Local 000 30 — 3 4 5

Indian Valley 005 7x — 13 11 0

BATTERIES: Carpenter, Waller (4) and Thompson. Wheeler, Gasser (5) and Allensworth.

Gibson may be reached at rgibson@timesleaderonline.com