Beaver Local blanked, 9-0, by Carrollton in

By JAKE GLAVIES, jglavies@reviewonline.com
STEUBENVILLE — On a rain-soaked Vaccaro Field, Beaver Local’s hopes of extending its season sank into the mud.

Though their hard work was spelled out in stained and drenched uniforms, the Beavers couldn’t translate these physical signs to the scoreboard, losing 9-0 to Carrollton in OHSAA sectional play, Wednesday.

Finishing the season at 13-11, it wasn’t the way coach Eric Lowe wanted the year to close.

“(It’s) very disappointing. We were hoping to get to play again Friday against Cambridge,” he said. “I’m proud of the kids and their effort throughout the year, but it’s a disappointing note to end on, especially when you had a lot of positives throughout the year.”

Despite the outcome, in the early goings it looked like anyone’s game. Heading into the bottom of the third inning with the score 3-0, the Beavers had their chances to make it close, but Warriors’ pitcher Josh Graham kept the batter’s in check.

The Beavers recorded just a pair of hits on the day, as Andrew Kidd knocked a single in the first inning and Shawn Mercer notched one of his own in the fourth.

According to Lowe, his team’s problems with the bat had a rippling effect.

“We struggled at the plate,” Lowe said. “The only two hard hit balls I can think (of) in the game were the two hits we had. It wouldn’t have mattered how we pitched and fielded, which is kind of the back bone of this team.”

Graham had a lot to do with those hardships, pitching a complete game, while recording nine strikeouts and four walks.

Carrollton coach Ken Pasiuk was impressed with the way his hurler handled himself in the win.

“Josh did a nice job. There must have been 11 different times when he was at a three-two count and only missed it twice,” he said. “He threw the ball hard, placed his pitches pretty well and threw some off-speed pitches when he needed to.”

Lowe knew heading into the game that the pitcher’s velocity would be an issue, having scouted him prior to the contest.

“I knew he was pretty decent. I had talked to a couple coaches,” he said. “I actually had somebody go watch him pitch at West Branch. I knew he threw really hard.”

Although his ace had a strong outing, Pasiuk ran into a bit of a dilemma in the final frame as Graham walked the bases loaded with just one out.

With another hurler warming up in the bullpen, the head man conferenced with his pitcher and the result — a double play. Seth Frampton hit a grounder to Tyler Dixon at second base and before he was thrown out at first, Bo Ibbs was tagged at second.

It wasn’t just the Warriors’ pitching that was on track, though.

Carrollton put it’s bats to work early, taking a quick 2-0 heading into the second inning. The team uped it to 3-0 before going on a splurge in the fourth to put up three runs, with another three coming in the seventh.

Mike Tepik led the Warriors’ charge with a three-run, home run in the top of the sixth to give Carrollton it’s decisive 9-0 lead. Colt Newell added a trio of singles, while Graham and Tyler Dixon each notched a single and double.

This hitting explosion came at the expense of Beaver Local’s Kelly Emmerling.

Emmerling was saddled with the loss after pitching a complete game, while giving up 11 hits, with nine strikeouts and just two walks.

Though pitching was an issue, for Lowe it came down to not being able to force the Warriors’ hand.

“We were right in that game, it was 4-0 most of the game,” Lowe said. “You get a couple runs, put a little bit of pressure on them, it’s possibly a different story, but we were never were able to get many guys on base.”