After a tense start, the fifth ranked Rising Sun Shiners pulled it together to post a 7 to 2 in over the White River Valley
to advance to the elite eight of Class A baseball in the Morristown Regional on Saturday, June 3rd.
Sophomore Jacob Bovard gave up a pair of first inning singles nestled around a hit batter but salvaged the inning allowing just one run and stranding a pair of runners.
Shiner lead-off batter Bryant Housemyer tied the game in the bottom of the inning after a triple. He scored when Brent Turner struck out but reached safely on a passed ball.
White River Valley became the Cinderella of the tourney as they were winless during the regular season before posting a pair of wins in the sectional. The old adage of doing what ever you can to get on appeared to be their motto as they collected a trio of walks, a hit batter along with a pair of rare catcher obstruction calls. A walk, stolen base and obstruction put WRV up 2 to1.
Brayden Bush singled but was doubled off after a line drive to second in the bottom of the inning.
Rising Sun’s sophomore right-hander allowed a pair of walks in the third but WRV was unable to capitalize.
Bovard settled in and retired 13 of the remaining 15 batters, allowing just a lead off single to counterpart Brayton Cornelius in the fifth. A second obstruction call in the seventh couldn’t deter Bovard. He answered with a pair of strikeouts to finish with a season high 10 Ks.
Meanwhile the Shiners continued their aggressive base running style. Senior Derrick Eldridge in the third but was shot down at second after alluding the tag but over sliding the base.
Senior Zach Martini singled in the fourth followed by a single by younger brother Matt. Bush’s seeing eye singled tied the score. A double steal by Peyton Bell and Bush set up a sacrifice fly by Steven Jimenez. Bovard then helped his cause with a two on, two out single.
A single by Zach Martini and an errant throw by the catcher led to a 5-2 lead after another Matt Martini single in the fifth.
Housemyer walked and stole a pair of bases in the sixth. He scored when Bovard put down a perfect suicide squeeze.
Turner and Eldridge reached on a pair of hard shots to the shortstop for th final Shiner run.
Rising Sun had 12 hits to just four by WRV.
The Shiner seniors led the way with Housemyer, Eldridge and Zach Martini collecting a pair of hits. Jakob Sandlin had a sacrifice bunt as well.
Underclassmen Matt Martini and Bush had two hits each with Bovard and Turner one each. Freshman Peyton Bell scored a run as courtesy runner.
The win advanced th Shiners to the final eight for the second time in school history.