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HNHS diamond boys dispatch Wayne in sectional quarters

Huntington North pitcher Mason Anderson gets ready to fire the ball homeward in sectional action Wednesday night against Fort Wayne Wayne at Huntington University's Forest Glen Park. The Vikings won, 8-2.
Huntington North pitcher Mason Anderson gets ready to fire the ball homeward in sectional action Wednesday night against Fort Wayne Wayne at Huntington University's Forest Glen Park. The Vikings won, 8-2. Photo by Scott Trauner.

The Huntington North High School baseball team dispatched Wayne, 8-2, in the quarterfinals of the Huntington North Sectional on Wednesday, May 22, at Huntington University’s Forest Glen Park.

With the win, Huntington North, 13-11, advances to the semifinal round, where it will take on South Side, 2-15, on Friday, May 24.

The Vikings blew open a scoreless affair with a pair of three-run efforts in the third and fourth innings. Coach Jared Hammel’s squad then tacked on solo tallies in the sixth and seventh frames before the Generals finally got on the board in their half of the seventh.

The third inning saw Huntington North score the game’s first run when Wayne pitcher Leontae Warren issued a bases-loaded walk, scoring senior Mason Anderson for the Vikings, who had reached base on a walk. One out later, Huntington North took advantage of a wild throw by the Generals’ Bryce Rochford, which enabled seniors Trey Williams and Keegan Bartrom, who had both reached base on walks, to touch home plate.

In the fourth, sophomore Brooks Nicely got things started for the Vikings with a double. Following the inning’s first out, sophomore Matthew Schnepp bunted and reached first, sending Nicely to third. After a bobble by the Generals’ Sam Young, Nicely scored and Schnepp advanced to third. Next, Anderson smacked a double, plating Schnepp, then moved over to third on Wayne’s throw. Senior Zach Daugherty capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly that brought Anderson home.

Huntington North banged out nine hits for the game. Daugherty finished with a triple and two runs batted in while Anderson logged two doubles and an RBI. Nicely contributed two hits and an RBI to the Vikings’ cause.

Anderson earned the win on the mound for Huntington North. The senior, 4-3, pitched the first three innings, yielding a pair of hits while fanning four. He was relieved by senior Levi Bennett, who ceded one base poke in two frames while walking two and striking out five. Williams tossed the final two innings, limiting Wayne to two hits and as many earned runs while striking out a pair.

Warren took the loss for Wayne, 8-17. He allowed two hits and three runs, one of which was earned, in three innings. He walked four and fanned two.

Dre Walton paced the Generals’ offense with two hits and an RBI.