Kings’ Matthew Hock won the battle of the southpaws as he led his team to a 4-1 win over Milford in the second round of the OHSAA Tournament. Facing off against Eagles’ ace Zach Byron, Hock held the Eagles to just a single run and three hits in a complete game gem.

 

Milford manufactured its single run of the game in the second, taking advantage of a one out single by Grant Whitaker. After Whitaker stole second, one out later Brady Sluder drove the junior home with a single up the middle for a 1-0 Eagles lead.

 

The Eagles only led until the bottom of the third when the Knights rallied to tie the score. Kings took advantage of a passed ball to allow Blake Lonsbury to produce a run-scoring groundout.

 

Kings stretched its lead to 3-1 with a pair of runs in the fifth, with most of the damage coming on softly hit balls. Hunter Jessee broke the tie with a fielder’s choice, while a Milford error led to the second run and spelled the end of the day for Byron. Kings tallied its last run in the sixth on a passed ball.

 

RECORDS & PITCHING DECISIONS

Milford: 16-12; Kings: 23-5

WP: Matthew Hock; LP: Zach Byron; Save: None

 

KEY PLAYERS

Milford

Brady Sluder RBI

Zach Byron 5 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 SO

 

Kings

Matthew Hock 7 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 SO

Max Palmieri 3-3

Nick Sackrider 2 R