Edison pulls away from Huron

HURON — Huron won the first five innings, but Edison dominated the final two to keep its Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division title hopes intact. The Chargers trailed 1-0 before Chaz Smith's RBI double tied the game in the sixth inning and the Chargers added four in the seventh to turn away the Tigers 5-1 on Thursday. "I liked our composure," Edison coach Sean Hoover said. "We talk all year about the things you have to do to win close games and how these things in the season can help you win close games at tournament time." Edison won its eighth straight game and improved to 11-3 overall and 7-1 in the Bay. The Chargers — who can win their fifth straight Bay title with wins next week against Willard and Port Clinton — are tied atop the Bay with Margaretta. "It was a tight one today," Hoover said. "Huron played their butts off, but we were able to scratch it out at the end. If we take care of business next week, we'll get our title no matter what else happens." Huron starting pitcher Grant Humphrey shut out Edison for five innings before running into control issues in the seventh. He walked two batters before Brody McFadden's bunt single loaded the bases with nobody out. A walk to Evan Schnittker — the Chargers' No. 9 hitter — scored Ian Preston with what proved to be the game-winning run. "We got a couple guys on in the last inning and Brody laid down a great bunt," Hoover said. "We aren't really known for our bunting, so to get one down and get two guys in scoring position was big." Edison got to the top of the order and put away the game. Leadoff batter Bryson Wittmer, Cole Leimeister and Smith each had two hits, combing on a 6 for 11 day. Wittmer greeted Huron reliever Grant Periat with a blast to left field for his second double of the day, scoring Owen Price and McFadden to give Edison a 4-1 lead. "He was on today," said Hoover of Wittmer. "He hit a couple good line drives and hit one to center that was a line drive for an out. He came up big with guys on base. I said just sit back, find your pitch and drive one and that's what he did." Leimeister added a RBI to score Schnittker. "We were sitting at 6-7-8 going into the seventh inning and they were at the top of their order so I knew we were gonna see their top guys," Hoover said. "I was hoping the guys at the bottom of our order could get it done and get it to the top of the order. They were able to do that and the guys at the top came through." Humphrey threw six strong innings, striking out five and getting a 1-2-3 fifth to keep Huron ahead. "We may have kept him in one batter too long. He did a phenomenal job," Huron coach Dan Lindsley said. "We were in a great spot, tied at 1 (after six innings) with 6-7-8 in their lineup. "Hump got a little tired. Us coaches were talking, but after the two walks I said they're gonna be bunting so let's see if he can get out of the jam. Didn't work out." Edison starter Eli Hermes went the distance, striking out seven. He threw a no-hitter against Huron earlier this month, but the Tigers totaled seven hits in the rematch. Huron, though, stranded four runners in scoring position. Huron scored the first run allowed by Hermes all season with two out in the fifth. Landon Hohler tripled and scored on Periat's line-drive single to left. Hermes has now allowed one run in 26 innings. "He's a competitor," Hoover said. "He went out there in the seventh inning and he owned it; he wanted the ball. He wanted to be the guy on the mound. There was no doubt in his mind he was going to get the job done." Like Edison, Huron's 1-2-3 hitters combined for a 6-for-11 day. Austin Sas had two singles, Sam Cox had two singles and Hohler singled, doubled and was hit by a pitch. Huron, which dropped to 10-7 overall and 5-3 in the Bay. Edison 000 001 4 — 5 7 0 Huron 000 010 0 — 1 7 0 WP: Hermes; LP: Humphrey 2B: (E) Wittmer 2, Smith; 3B: (H) Hohler