BASEBALL: Trent Rider, Southern Fulton nearly perfect in win over McConnellsburg

MCCONNELLSBURG >> When there's a lot on the line, gamers game at game time.

Trent Rider was the definition of a gamer Tuesday night.

"He had a chip on his shoulder from the first time we played (McConnellsburg, in a 3-2 loss) this year," Southern Fulton baseball coach Dustin Fischer said. "Typically, we don't throw the same guys two times in the regular season, but I could tell he had something to prove."

Rider proved it.

Not only did the Indians have the Sideling Hill League and the Inter-County Conference Southern Division titles on the line, there was also a pro and a college scout watching Rider. He gave them a nearly-perfect show.

Rider allowed only one hit, struck out seven and walked none in a 4-0 victory over the Spartans.

"I just look right at the mitt and do the same thing I always do," Rider said. "I try to act like I'm throwing in the bullpen. You don't want to overthrow and hurt yourself, but you know (the scouts) are there, so of course you try to impress them."

Rider's only blemish was a single in the third inning that was erased by a double play turned by Tristan Douglas.

"I knew that runner wasn't gonna get to second," Rider said. "I knew I could induce a grounder, and they'd get the double play. With the infield that I have, it's easy to pitch. And I'm very grateful for that."

Rider needed only 76 pitches, 61 of which were strikes, and an hour and a half to shut down the Spartans (13-3, 11-3 SHL, 11-2 ICC). He faced the minimum 21 batters.

"He mixes his pitches pretty well," said Landon Richards, who had McConnellsburg's only hit. "The speed is there, too. We don't get to see that kind of speed very much."

Southern Fulton (17-2, 14-1 SHL, 12-1 ICC) got its hitting going early. Dylan Gordon led off the top of the first with a single, and Douglas followed with a double to left-centerfield. Connor Litton then drove in Gordon with a single, and although Rider reached on an error, the Indians couldn't push any more runs through.

But they weren't done yet. In the second inning, Robbie McCusker led off with a double, and Gordon plated him with a fielder's choice. After a walk to Douglas, Gordon scored his second run of the day on an RBI single from Dillan Lashley.

Then Southern Fulton left a pair stranded after McConnellsburg's Taylor Souders induced a pair of popups.

"The thing of it was, he was a little up early," Spartan coach Brian Ramsey said. "But the first inning, they got the bases loaded and only got one run out of it. Second inning, they got the bases loaded again and only got two. Taylor really held them down, and he gave us some opportunities to put some pressure on them, and it didn't happen. Taylor threw an outstanding game; tonight, Rider was just better."

Rider then helped his own cause with an insurance run in the fifth. Litton led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch before Rider plated him with a double to deep centerfield.

"We hit the ball well when we needed to," Fischer said. "(Rider) said he needed two runs, so we wanted to come out and get him at least those. We didn't do that the first game, and we could've hit better today. But against good teams, you're not gonna get 12-15 hits; you have to play well, and we did what we needed to do today."

Southern Fulton 4 McConnellsburg 0

So.FultonMcConnellsburgabrhbabrhbGordon 3b4211TSoudrs p3000Douglas 2b2010Novak ss3000Litton ss4121Koontz c3000Lashley cf4011Brnard 1b2000Rider p4011Little rf2000Mellott cr0000Welsh 2b2000Elbin c4000Richrds 3b2010Lynch dh2000Crouse dh2000Potter 1b1000Strait cf0000McCsker lf3110Miller lf2000Clark rf2000Totals30474Totals21010

Southern Fulton1200100—4McConnellsburg0000000—0

E: McC 3; DP: SF 1; LOB: SF 8, McC 0; 2B: Douglas, McCusker, Rider; SB: Litton, Clark.

Southern Fulton pitching

McConnellsburg pitching

T.Souders (L,1-1)774325

HBP: by T.Souders (Douglas).

WP: T.Souders 3.

T: 1:31.