Hauck Two-Hitter Leads Waverly To Elite 8

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The (19-11) Waverly Tigers have hit their stride at just the right time- when it counts for a trip to the Division 2 OHSAA Baseball Elite 8. The Tigers rode the arm of pitcher Hunter Hauck as he threw a two-hit shutout for a 2-0 win over the Washington Blue Lions Thursday at Ohio University. This is the Tigers first trip to the Regional Baseball Final since 2013, according to Coach Jeff Noble.

All of the offense Waverly would need came in their first at-bat, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Creed Smith led the game off with a walk, followed by LT Jordan’s single then a single by Jase Hurd to load the bases. Hauck made it 1-0 with an RBI sacrifice fly. Ben Nichols then hit into a fielders choice ground-out that scored the runner from third for the 2-0 lead.

The Blue Lions had few offensive threats in the game, only stranding five runners on base. They left two on in the fourth inning, one in the fifth and two in the sixth inning. They were shutdown in order in the last of the seventh inning, which gave the Tigers the victory.

The only player with multiple base hits in the game was Waverly’s LT Jordan, who went 2 for 3 at the plate and scored a run.

Waverly had 2 runs on 4 hits and one error, while Washington had 0 runs on 2 hits with no errors.

The Tigers will play for the Regional Championship at Ohio University at 5pm Friday against Wintersville Indian Creek, who advanced with a 10-8 victory over Saint Clairsville at Cadiz.