Huron grinds out win over Bellevue

BELLEVUE — Austin Sas took out some frustrations. Sas was twice hit by pitches and flew into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the second inning. Down by a run, Sas got a hold of a fastball and sent it over the left-field fence for Huron. The Tigers added an insurance run in the seventh inning and fended off Bellevue 6-4 in Sandusky Bay Conference crossover action Tuesday. It was the second straight night that Sas homered for Huron (10-6) after one Monday at Willard. "He was out all of last year with an injury, but has done a great job this year," Tigers coach Dan Lindsley said. "What I like about him is he stays even-keeled. He was able to do that tonight where he could have gotten frustrated about getting hit by a pitch." Huron didn't have a hit off Bellevue (8-5) reliever Kaden Beard when the sixth inning started and Beard got the first two outs with ease. Jack Raglow then blooped a single into center. Sas turned on 1-0 pitch to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 lead. "We've been preaching that for 16 games so far," said Lindsley of fighting back. "We've been preaching to not let us get out of a game. I thought tonight was the first time where we had some adversity, lost the lead and we were able to come back and get it. I think that shows signs that we are building as a team." That gave Landon Hohler the support he needed. After getting the final two outs in a rocky fifth inning, Hohler worked in and out of trouble in each of the final two innings. In the sixth, Beard and Blake Sutherland each singled to give the Redmen a chance. Hohler induced a popup on the infield, flyout to left and liner to second to get out of the jam. "We had a lot of chances all game," Bellevue coach Andy Dennings said. "Even early we had runners in scoring position and didn't get a big hit when we needed to." Bellevue gave it a go in the seventh inning. Reid Claus reached on an error before Caden Lindsey drew a walk. Trying to get the tying runs into scoring position, James Gish tried to put down a bunt. Hohler charged on the short popup. He made the catch and fired to second for a double play. Hohler then struck out his second batter of the game to seal the win. "He is still working back from that labrum injury last year," said Lindsley of Hohler. "We're just trying to gradually ease him in, but every time he's pitched, he's been a little bit better. He's a bulldog." Huron got on the board first. Grant Periat, Braden Hall and Ryan Hand all walked in the second inning against Bellevue starter Grant Musser. A ball hit by Casey Cox wasn't fielded cleanly, allowing two runs to score. In the third inning, Sam Cox walked, stole second and scored on Periat's single. That looked like it would be enough for Sam Cox. The fast-working righty had to throw pitches, but he didn't allow a hit the first four innings. He walked four and hit one in the first four, but escaped damage each time. The walks caught up to Cox in the fifth inning. Sutherland and Musser walked to give Bellevue an opportunity. Tatum Gore came off the bench for a pinch-hit two-run double to the wall. Ike Brown followed with a RBI double, tying the game at 3. Later, Brown stole third and scampered home on a bad throw to third, giving Bellevue the lead and ending Cox's day on the mound. "Tatum had a good at-bat there, coming off the bench cold," Dennings said. "That was one inning we did take advantage of opportunities. We hit some missiles with nothing to show for it." Bellevue is scheduled to hit the road to Tiffin Columbian on Wednesday in SBC Lake Division action. The Redmen travel to Division IV No. 10 Perkins on Friday. "We have an opportunity to play for something," Dennings said. "We're playing for pride, no matter what. I thought we had a shot to win today and didn't take advantage of it." The path to a league title is a little clearer for Huron. The Tigers host Edison on Thursday and Margaretta next Wednesday. "We know what is ahead of us," Lindsley said. "If we can win the next three, we're going to be at least co-champs of the conference. We were going strong and competing with Edison the last eight or nine years, but last year we lost two to them. "We lost the first one this year, so I know the boys are ready to go. We have to go out and have confidence." Huron 021 002 1 — 6 4 2 Bellevue 000 040 0 — 4 4 3 WP: Hohler. LP: Beard. 2B: (B) Gore, Brown. HR: (H) Sas