A rough first inning was too much for Indian Lake’s baseball team to recover from in a Division III sectional final loss Monday.
Visiting Versailles needed just three at bats to score two runs in the top of the first and the Tigers went on to blank the Lakers 5-0.
“It’s my job to put our guys in the best positions to be successful and to have them prepared, and I don’t feel like I did that today,” said Indian Lake head coach Ryan Lillard. “It hurts because I feel like I let our seniors down.
“Give Versailles credit, we knew they would play us tough. But we were not prepared the way we needed to be for a game like this, and that falls on me.”
Versailles’ Joe Ruhenkamp led off the game with a double down the left-field line.
Jared Lyons followed with a single to right field. The ball was bobbled for a moment in right, allowing Ruhenkamp to trot home and make it a 1-0 Versailles lead.
The next Versailles batter hit a ground ball to the shortstop. An errant throw to first resulted in Lyons coming in to score to make it 2-0.
Senior lefty Gavin Lones was able to get out of the first inning without anymore damage, but it was hole that the Lakers could not dig out of.
The Lakers’ best opportunity to put runs on the scoreboard came in the bottom of the third when they loaded the bases with two outs. But a grounder up the middle was fielded by the second baseman and he tossed to shortstop at second for the final out.
Versailles then broke the game open with a three-run fourth inning.
Ruhenkamp had a two-run double and the Tigers also scored a run on a wild pitch in the frame to increase their lead to 5-0.
Versailles pitcher AJ Griesdorn kept the Lakers off balance at the plate in recording a complete-game shutout. He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out seven.
Dawson Finfrock was 2-3 and Chase Baldwin had a double to lead the Lakers.
Indian Lake finishes the 2023 campaign with a record of 18-9. The Lakers won a share of the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division.
Monday’s game was the last for Laker seniors Rece Kimmel, Lones and Baldwin.
“I feel bad that our three seniors have to end their careers like this,” said Lillard. “Rece is as good of a teammate as Indian Lake has ever had. Chase is a great competitor and Gavin has been a quiet leader that the other kids look up to. I hate to see those guys leave.
“Those three guys helped us win our first league championship in six years, so that is something they can be proud of, and it is a part of their legacy.”
Versailles (15-11) advances to play Cincinnati Country Day in the district championship game Wednesday.
VERSAILLES 5, Indian Lake 0
Tigers 200 300 0 — 5 6 0
Lakers 000 000 0 — 0 5 3
WP—Griesdorn; LP—Lones.