Staff writer
The Marion High School baseball team’s season ended Tuesday in first-round regional loss to Hillsboro, 11-2.
The Trojans scored six runs in the first inning and three runs in the second to take the early advantage.
Hillsboro catcher Aaron Bina and shortstop Tyler Ediger were the offensive stars for the Trojans. Bina went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs and Ediger went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.
“Sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days,” coach Tyler Mermis said of the Warriors effort.
The Warriors struggled to solve the puzzle that was Hillsboro hurler Jacob Edwards, hitting safely only three times in the game.
The Warriors scored a run in the first inning, off Brian Fruechting and Austin Pedersen walks, and a run in the third inning — Marshall Ragland scored Pedersen on a sacrifice groundout but could not reach home plate again.
The Warriors succumbed to 13 strikeouts, 10 at the hand of Edwards and three consecutive punchouts in the final inning to Ben Gardner.
“The guys can hit the ball when they want to,” Mermis said.
Mermis said the loss was a little bit more disappointing because it came against Hillsboro. The 2009-10 season is the last year that Marion and Hillsboro will be in the same league together and the Warriors want to take away a postseason victory.
Many of the Warriors will start summer ball after Memorial Day.