Dobyns-Bennett outscores West Ridge in District 1-4A elimination game

Dobyns-Bennett (24-7) is scheduled to face Daniel Boone in a Friday losers’ bracket final at 6 p.m. with the season again on the line. West Ridge ends his season at 10-17.

“At the end of the day, we scored enough and held them off,” D-B coach Ryan Wagner said. “They’re a tough out. We didn’t knock the ball out of the park, but we did what we needed to score runs. We made things happen on offense.”

Both teams scored a run in the first inning before the Indians came through with two more in the third inning. Taylor Blankenship had a RBI single and Mason Kerkhoff hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Will Ritz provided a RBI single for a run in the fifth before a sac fly by Mason Barnett plated Tray Windham. Ritz added a third run on a steal at home for a 6-1 lead at the end of five inning. The runs were needed as the Wolves far from done.

Brayden Barr belted a shot which hit the scoreboard in left field for a solo home run, and Ryker Hann followed with a RBI single. Morgan Ward had a line drive to center field for a two-run single to cut the lead to 6-5 before the top of the sixth was finished.

Dobyns-Bennett, which was shut out by Science Hill the night before, found plenty of ways to score Thursday night.

Blankenship had another RBI single in the bottom of the sixth as he finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Ritz became the third D-B player to have a sacrifice fly moments later as he was also credited with three RBIs.

Cam Hayworth gave up eight hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings, but got the win. He aided his cause by going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Andrew Reilly scored two runs in the victory.

Kas Click and Barr each had two hits to lead West Ridge. Kade Oliver suffered the loss after giving up six hits and six runs. The Wolves kept fighting to the end, getting two runners on base in the final inning.

Science Hill 8, Daniel Boone 1

The host Hilltoppers used a strong performance by starting pitcher Noah Hazell to gain the upper hand in the winners’ bracket semifinal.

Hazell scattered six hits and gave up just one walk and one run in 5 1/3 innings to lead the Hilltoppers (29-10) over the regular-season champion Trailblazers (19-7).

Josh Marmo led the way for the Science Hill offense, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Lucas Dye also had two hits, while Sam Lane drove in two runs and scored once.

Brayden Blankenship and Chandler Justice each had two hits to lead Boone.