THE PLAINS — For the first time since 2019, the Tri-Valley Conference-Ohio title stays in The Plains.
In a small microcosm of how the Bulldogs have seemingly run rampant against their schedule all season, Athens (15-3, 10-0 TVC-Ohio) pulled out yet another dominant performance to secure the divisional crown on Wednesday afternoon with a 10-0 beatdown over Vinton County at home in five innings.
A clear moment to show how much the accomplishment and success meant to the program, head coach Todd Nuzum received an ice bath from the players in the outfield just after the final out was made.
“It’s great to bring back the TVC. It’s been a few years, we lost the 2020 year but it’s a great feeling.” Nuzum noted with a smile draped across his face after the win.
The divisional title wasn’t the only reason to celebrate in The Plains on Wednesday either. Celebrating senior night, the Bulldogs got to send off Sam Trainer, Colin Roach, Michael List, Wylie Anderson and Rowan Linscott as champions.
“No matter what they’re role is, they’ve been awesome,” Nuzum glowingly said about the senior class and their impact on the program. “We talk about how you’re just as much as part of the team on the bench as the nine on the field. It was just awesome to get them all out there tonight and see them contribute there at the end.”
On the field, it was just like all the other dominant victories the team has racked up over the season. Athens would need just eight hits to get the ten runs, taking advantage of three errors from the Vikings’ defense. The Bulldogs would end up scoring six in the first inning to take control of this one early.
Overall, Noah Sincoff would help lead the offensive output out of the nine spot in the lineup, going 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Jack Kristofco would grab a pair of RBIs and runs scored on one hit while Brady Wharton also tallied a hit and a run batted in.
Justin Bennett would add two hits and a pair of runs scored while Sam Trainer also tallied a hit. Easton Nuzum would also grab an RBI and a run scored in the win.
On the mound, Ryan Cornwell got the start and ultimately picked up the win after four innings of one-hit ball, striking out six while walking just one. Bennett would then throw a scoreless inning of relief to help secure the victory.
“We stress, as long as you’re pounding the strike zone, Ryan can be really good. He was pounding the strike zone tonight.”
For the Vikings, it was a rough night overall with just three players reaching base throughout the game. Brayden West would have the team’s only hit while Parker Shonborn and Rylan Brown each drew a walk.
On the mound, Logan Webb would start and get the loss after 2.2 innings of seven-hit ball, allowing four earned runs while walking five and striking out four. Gavin Clark would toss the final 1.1 innings in relief, keeping the Bulldogs scoreless during that time.
As mentioned earlier, it didn’t take long for Athens to establish dominance in the contest, looking to make history. After getting out of the top of the first inning where a couple Vikings’ runners got on, the Bulldogs started bashing.
Following a leadoff single from Bennett, the junior would move to second on a passed ball before an error from Vinton County’s first baseman on a ground ball from Nuzum would allow Bennett to scamper all the way home for the first run of the night.
The bases would then load up before Wharton dropped a single right over the first baseman to move everyone up a base. Following an impressive at-bat from Kristofco to draw a bases loaded walk to bring in another run, Sincoff would drill a bases-clearing single to extend the lead to 6-0 as the Bulldogs batted through in the opening frame.
“When you get six out of the bat you can relax a little bit. It made me feel good that I was going to get those seniors in and everyone would be able to get into the game.”
Cornwell would then set down the next six batters he faced, five of them by way of strikeout as the lefty continued dealing before Athens poured on to the lead.
In the bottom of the third, four consecutive hits to start the inning, including an RBI single from Kristofco would help drive a four-run frame as the Bulldogs suddenly took a double-digit advantage, needing just six outs to secure the mercy rule victory.
Vinton County would get runners on in each of the final two frames but couldn’t capitalize on the moment. With Bennett on the mound, the righty would induce a double-play in the fifth just before a pop out to Trainer ended the contest. Once the ball was caught, the Bulldogs got to celebrate after five years of waiting.
The season is far from over with postseason brackets to be released soon. The TVC-Ohio was just one of many goals this iteration of Bulldogs baseball had, now it’s time to go make more history.
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