Patriots turn back Golden Bears, 3-2, then win Big Cat Classic Invitational
May 21, 2021 at 3:58 p.m.
By Vivian Risch-
The Pats defeated Whitko, 8-4, in six innings in the first game to advance. Twin Lakes moved into the championship game with a 12-4 win over Elwood.
“It was a fun day at Elwood,” UC coach Jordan Ashbrook said. “But the fun began on Friday when we beat top-ranked Monroe Central.”
The Patriots and Golden Bears played through three scoreless innings before lighting up the scoreboard in the fourth inning. MC put up 2 runs only to have UC match it in the bottom of the inning.
After five more scoreless innings and the score still tied at 2-2, Union County made its move in the bottom of the 10th inning. With the first pitch to the plate, Eric Burdine’s RBI single gave Union County a 3-2 win and a 14-8 season record.
“Mason keeps improving and pitched a great game,” Ashbrook said. “And Nate came on to get the save.”
Hornung gave up 2 runs on 7 hits, struck out 7 and walked zero in 7.2 innings on the mound. Reffitt worked 2.1 innings with one strike out, no hits or runs.
MC pitchers struck out 13 Patriots and walked one. The Bears finished with a 13-4 record.
Monroe Central 000 200 000 - 2
Union County 000 200 000 - 3
2B: UC 1 (Hornung).
RBI: UC 3 (Burdine, Taylor 2).
SB: UC 1 (Hornung).
Batteries: Hornung, Reffitt and Wicker.
Patriots win Big Cat Classic, 18-6
The Patriots’ good start yielded 8 runs in a win over Whitko and 10 runs in the championship win over Twin Lakes and held the opponents to a total of 6 runs.
Union County came out swinging against Whitko with five runs scored in the first inning, one run in the fourth, two more in the fifth.
While UC runs added up, the Wildcats struggled to circle the bases. A run in the second inning, 2 in the fifth and one more in the sixth added up to 4 runs.
UC starting pitcher John Ridenour went 4 innings , giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, 3 strikeouts and a pair of walks. Relievers Matthew Wooley (1 run on 3 hits, a strikeout and a walk) and Nate Reffitt (1 hit, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks) pitched the final 2.3 innings.
UC came back with Alex VanWinkle on the mound in the championship game. The UC senior gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, 5 strikeouts and a pair of walks in five innings. Burdine finished on the mound.
The Pats collected 12 hits, 8 RBI and left 8 runners on base.
Ridenour had 3 hits in 5 at bats, Mason Wicker 2-for-3 and Hornung 2-for 4. Getting extra bases were Shepherd’s double, VanWinkle’s triple and Wicker’s home run.
The Indians were held to 2 runs on 6 hits, and left five on base.
“It was a fun day,” Ashbrook said again.
Next Opponents
The Patriots hosts Milan on Thursday, May 20, and are the home team in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 22, at the Day Air Ball Park in Dayton. The first game is with Seton Catholic at 10 a.m. The second game is at 1 p.m. with Cowan.
Big Cat Classic
Whitko 010 021 0 - 4
Union County 500 120 x - 8
2B: UC 3 (Burdine 2, Hornung).
RBI: W 3 (Cripe, Platt, Hoffman). UC 7 (Bias, Burdine 2, Richards 2, Taylor 2.
HBP: W 2 (Brown, Meadows). UC 1 (VanWinkle).
SB: W 4 (Ousley 2, Wilson, Traxler). UC 2 (VanWinkle, Wicker).
Batteries: W–Ousley, Harper, Brown. UC–VanWinkle, Reffitt and Wicker.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Union County 021 212 2 - 10
Twin Lakes 002 000 0 - 2
2B: UC 1 (Shepherd).
3B: UC 1 (VanWinkle). TL 1 (Robertson).
HR: UC 1 (Wicker).
RBI: UC 8 (Hornung, Ridenour, Shepherd 2, VanWinkle 3, Wicker). TL 1 (Reece).
HBP: UC 4 (Shepherd, Taylor, VanWinkle, Wickrer).
SB: UC 5 (Tipton, Wicker 4).
Batteries: UC–VanWinkle, Burdine and Wicker.
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The Pats defeated Whitko, 8-4, in six innings in the first game to advance. Twin Lakes moved into the championship game with a 12-4 win over Elwood.
“It was a fun day at Elwood,” UC coach Jordan Ashbrook said. “But the fun began on Friday when we beat top-ranked Monroe Central.”
The Patriots and Golden Bears played through three scoreless innings before lighting up the scoreboard in the fourth inning. MC put up 2 runs only to have UC match it in the bottom of the inning.
After five more scoreless innings and the score still tied at 2-2, Union County made its move in the bottom of the 10th inning. With the first pitch to the plate, Eric Burdine’s RBI single gave Union County a 3-2 win and a 14-8 season record.
“Mason keeps improving and pitched a great game,” Ashbrook said. “And Nate came on to get the save.”
Hornung gave up 2 runs on 7 hits, struck out 7 and walked zero in 7.2 innings on the mound. Reffitt worked 2.1 innings with one strike out, no hits or runs.
MC pitchers struck out 13 Patriots and walked one. The Bears finished with a 13-4 record.
Monroe Central 000 200 000 - 2
Union County 000 200 000 - 3
2B: UC 1 (Hornung).
RBI: UC 3 (Burdine, Taylor 2).
SB: UC 1 (Hornung).
Batteries: Hornung, Reffitt and Wicker.
Patriots win Big Cat Classic, 18-6
The Patriots’ good start yielded 8 runs in a win over Whitko and 10 runs in the championship win over Twin Lakes and held the opponents to a total of 6 runs.
Union County came out swinging against Whitko with five runs scored in the first inning, one run in the fourth, two more in the fifth.
While UC runs added up, the Wildcats struggled to circle the bases. A run in the second inning, 2 in the fifth and one more in the sixth added up to 4 runs.
UC starting pitcher John Ridenour went 4 innings , giving up 3 runs on 5 hits, 3 strikeouts and a pair of walks. Relievers Matthew Wooley (1 run on 3 hits, a strikeout and a walk) and Nate Reffitt (1 hit, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks) pitched the final 2.3 innings.
UC came back with Alex VanWinkle on the mound in the championship game. The UC senior gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, 5 strikeouts and a pair of walks in five innings. Burdine finished on the mound.
The Pats collected 12 hits, 8 RBI and left 8 runners on base.
Ridenour had 3 hits in 5 at bats, Mason Wicker 2-for-3 and Hornung 2-for 4. Getting extra bases were Shepherd’s double, VanWinkle’s triple and Wicker’s home run.
The Indians were held to 2 runs on 6 hits, and left five on base.
“It was a fun day,” Ashbrook said again.
Next Opponents
The Patriots hosts Milan on Thursday, May 20, and are the home team in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 22, at the Day Air Ball Park in Dayton. The first game is with Seton Catholic at 10 a.m. The second game is at 1 p.m. with Cowan.
Big Cat Classic
Whitko 010 021 0 - 4
Union County 500 120 x - 8
2B: UC 3 (Burdine 2, Hornung).
RBI: W 3 (Cripe, Platt, Hoffman). UC 7 (Bias, Burdine 2, Richards 2, Taylor 2.
HBP: W 2 (Brown, Meadows). UC 1 (VanWinkle).
SB: W 4 (Ousley 2, Wilson, Traxler). UC 2 (VanWinkle, Wicker).
Batteries: W–Ousley, Harper, Brown. UC–VanWinkle, Reffitt and Wicker.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Union County 021 212 2 - 10
Twin Lakes 002 000 0 - 2
2B: UC 1 (Shepherd).
3B: UC 1 (VanWinkle). TL 1 (Robertson).
HR: UC 1 (Wicker).
RBI: UC 8 (Hornung, Ridenour, Shepherd 2, VanWinkle 3, Wicker). TL 1 (Reece).
HBP: UC 4 (Shepherd, Taylor, VanWinkle, Wickrer).
SB: UC 5 (Tipton, Wicker 4).
Batteries: UC–VanWinkle, Burdine and Wicker.
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