Seniors Lead Leopards Past Dukes 5-1 on Senior Night
FULL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Louisville 5, Marlington 1
Senior Dillon Stertzbach pitched a complete game and struck out 9 during Louisville’s 5-1 win over Marlington Tuesday evening at the Field of Dreams. Seniors Connor Ruffier and Mike Kelly also had 3 hits a piece to lead the 17-6, 11-2 Leopards.
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Louisville loaded the bases with no outs. Riley Groves doubled to start the inning, Bryan Adams then got on via an error, and Alex Hollifield was hit by a pitch. After that, Kyle White crushed a deep fly ball to center field that was caught, but allowed Groves to advance home from third. Then Ruffier laid down and reached base via a bunt for the second time in the game. The pinch-running Joey Duckworth advanced home on the play to put Louisville up 3-1.
Duckworth would start the Leopards offense again in the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off double. Then 
Hollifield bunted in an attempt to sacrifice Duckworth to third, but the ball went through the legs of the defender allowing Hollifield to also reach first safely. Hollifield then stole second base uncontested leaving first base open, which caused Marlington to intentionally walk Ruffier who had gone 3-for-3. Kelly made them pay for that decision by driving a pitch to center that brought home Duckworth. Kelly finished 3-for-4 in the contest. Jon Crank then followed with a groundout to first that allowed Hollifield to come across the plate making it 5-1 Louisville.
On the mound, Stertzbach retired the final 8 Dukes he faced and did not allow a single hit in the final three innings to pick up his second victory of the season. Stertzbach allowed just 1 run on 4 hits. Marlington’s only run came via a wild pitch that allowed Dymonte Thomas to score from third.
The Leopards first run of the contest came off the bat of Hollifield in the second inning. His single allowed Groves to score from second. Groves singled aboard and then stole second to put himself into scoring position before Hollifield delivered the scoring blow. Groves finished the evening with a pair of hits and a pair of runs.
Louisville is now 11-2 in the NBC with just one game left to play. They will play that game Wednesday at Marlington for a chance to clinch a share of the conference. The Leopards can win their third straight outright title if they win over the Dukes and Alliance can take at least 1 out of 2 from Canton South this week. The Aviators and Wildcats were rained out Tuesday, but are scheduled to play at Alliance Wednesday.
Leopard Nation would like to thank our six baseball Seniors: Bryan Adams, Jon Crank, Mike Kelly, Chad Neff, Connor Ruffier, and Dillon Stertzbach for all the great memories the past couple outstanding season. You will truly be missed, but we wish you the best in all you do after graduation!
PICTURES
Box Score
LEOPARDS 5, DUKES 1
Marlington Dukes Varsity Batting
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D Thomas | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J Walker | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| T Rupert | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| J Fey | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| M Tolerton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| E Wutrick | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| S Kirk | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C Obrien | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| R Linerode | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Totals | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
Marlington Dukes Varsity Pitching
| Pitching | O | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | S% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B Baulderson | 18 | 6.0 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 64.6% |
| Totals | 18 | 6.0 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 64.6% |
Louisville Leopards Varsity Batting
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K White | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| C Ruffier | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| M Kelly | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J Crank | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C Neff | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D Stertzbaugh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R Groves | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B Adams | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A Hollifield | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J Duckworth | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 28 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Louisville Leopards Varsity Pitching
| Pitching | O | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | S% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D Stertzbaugh | 21 | 7.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 55.8% |
| Totals | 21 | 7.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 55.8% |
Team 123-456-7–R-H-E
Marlington 001-000-0–1-4-2
Louisville 010-202-X–5-11-2
Records: Louisville 17-6, 11-2, Marlington 7-15, 5-8
NEXT UP: The Leps will rematch with the Dukes at Marlington on Wednesday, May 8 at 4:30 PM. The JV & Freshman squads will host the Dukes at the same time.
JV & Freshman: Rained out.
