2023 NEWS ARTICLES
Troy baseball returns talented, veteran group to diamond
3/16/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — The Troy baseball team has experience that few teams have.
The Trojans have 16 seniors on the roster, a deep pitching staff and seven of the eight position starters returning from a year ago, when Troy went 23-5 and shared the MVL title with Vandalia-Butler.
And Troy coach Ty Welker knows that beats the alternative.
“All our guys play for different teams in the summer, so it is nice to get out there and get the continuity of playing with each other back,” Welker said. “And these guys enjoy playing with each other. I think I will notice it more next year, when we don’t have that experience.”
And Welker knows the expectations are again high for the Trojans.
“These guys know there is a target on their back,” Welker said. “That they are going to get everybody’s best every night. They look forward to the challenge. Expectations are always high here.”
And Welker had a conversation with the team before the season.
“It is not a question of playing hard, these guys playing hard every night,” he said. “We talked about leadership and what leadership is and why we lost some of the games we lost last year. We only had five losses; we had a good year. We won a lot of close games. We want to put games away early this year and be able to work on things.”
The pitching staff is headed up by three, 3-year starters.
Senior Andrew Helman was 4-0 last year, striking out 49 batters in 34 innings and having a .618 ERA.
Senior Brian Allen was 5-1 in eighth games with 38 strikeouts in 32 inning and a 3.031 ERA and senior Trayce Mercer was 4-2 with 60 strikeouts in 47 innings and a 2.056 ERA.
“Those guys have a lot of experience,” Mercer said. “They have all been starting for three years.”
Rounding out the rotation will be senior Connor Hutchinson (Ball State) and sophomore Hayden Frey, who was 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA last year.
“Connor (Hutchinson) only pitched four innings last year,” Mercer said. “He is healthy now. Hayden (Frey) is lefthander who threw well last year.”
Senior Jacob Lucas was 4-0 last year with a .966 ERA.
“Jacob (Lucas) saw more action than anyone,” Welker said. “He appeared in 13 games. He was a quiet anchor for us.”
Also seeing action on the mound will be junior Caleb Akins, junior Evan Kaiser, senior JD Harvey, senior Eli Smith senior Nick May, senior Thomas Mascarella, senior Adam Huber and senior Damian Hanf.
Senior Owen Harlamert will handle the catching duties. Also seeing action there will be junior Ethan Nosker and Akins.
Harlamert hit .254 a year ago, with two homers, two doubles, a triple and 11 RBIs.
The infield returns intact as well.
Hutchinson will play third base and shortstop, three-year starter Ryder Kirtley (Virginia Tech commit) will be at shortstop, Akins will be at second base and Frey will be at first base.
Kirtley battled .396 a year ago with 10 doubles, a triple, 20 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.
Hutchinson batted .271 with a home run, three doubles, 10 RBIs and 11 stolen bases, Akins had a double, triple and 12 RBIs, and Frey batted .322 with a double, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
Smith, Huber and sophomore Matthew Hempker will also see action in the infield.
“We have two juniors and sophomore starting, so we are still pretty young there,” Welker said. “Eli Smith had Tommy John surgery a year and a half ago, so he will play some infield.”
Senior Eli Donnan returns in left field.
A year ago, he hit .329 with two doubles, 11 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
“Eli (Donnan) is athletic and swings a strong bat,” Welker said.
In right field, Mercer is back — along with seniors Tristan Harting, Zane Huelsman, Connor Moeller and Mascarello.
Nick Kawecki will not be back in centerfield, due to an injury.
Taking over will be Kaiser and Lucas.
“Nick (Kawecki) is rehabbing an injury so he won’t be able to play,” Mercer said. “Centerfield is probably our biggest question mark. But, Evan Kaiser and Jacob Lucas are two pretty good athletes.”
The MVL is not a lot different from a year ago.
“Or biggest challenge is probably going to be Vandalia-Butler,” Welker said. “But, Tippecanoe is always going to bring it and Piqua is coming off a good year and has a strong senior group. Every team has a couple good arms, we are not overlooking anybody.
“In the other division, Sidney and West Carrollton have a couple good arms. You can’t overlook anyone.”
The Trojans are looking to make a run this season in the postseason.
“We had a good year last year,” Welker said. “But, things didn’t go our way in the tournament. We want to change that.”
And he couldn’t have a better group to do it with.
Troy baseball opens season with win over Greenville
3/28/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — It wasn’t perfect by any means.
But the Troy baseball team opened the season by handling Greenville 9-2 in MVL action.
The Trojans made the most of four hits and took advantage of five Greenville errors.
“Our biggest concern coming into the season was hitting,” Troy baseball coach Ty Welker said. “We had too many fly balls. And too many situations where we swung through the ball (struck out) with runners in scoring position.”
But, Troy’s pitching was exactly what Welker expected.
“Trayce (Mercer) threw well,” Welker said. “He worked into the fifth inning and his pitch count was up around 80,” Welker said. “And Connor (Hutchinson) and Caleb (Akins) threw well. They did exactly what we expected.”
Troy got five runs on just one hit in the opening inning to take an early lead.
Ryder Kirtley reached second on a mis-played fly ball for a double to start the inning.
With one out, Eli Smith, Eli Donnan and Owen Harlamert all walked, forcing in a run and loading the bases.
Hutchinson brought in Donnan on a fielder’s choice, Jacob Lucas had a two-run double with two out and Hutchinson scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.
“Greenville gave us some gifts and we were able to take advantage of it,” Welker said.
Troy made it 6-0 in the second.
Hayden Frey singled with one out and scored when Smith reached on an error.
Troy made it 7-0 in the third when Lucas walked, stole second and scored on Kirtley’s single.
Greenville would get on the board with unearned runs in the fourth and the fifth.
In the fourth, the first three Greenville batters reached on errors.
Mercer picked one runner off first base, but one runner scored when the throw back to the mound after a pitch got away in the infield.
Greenville scored a run in the fifth on a wild pitch.
“Greenville is a scrappy team,” Welker said. “In the past, they have just found ways to hang around.”
In the sixth, both Frey and Donnan walked and would come around to score on wild pitches for the final margin.
Welker pitched five-plus innings. He struck out the side in the first and finished with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Hutchinson would strikeout five of the six batters he faced and Akins struck out one batter in the seventh.
They combined on a five-hitter.
“We knew pitching was going to be a strength,” Welker said.
The two teams were scheduled to play again at Greenville on Tuesday.
After Troy took care of business on Monday.
Tuesday Baseball Roundup
3/29/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
GREENVILLE — The Troy baseball team got in a 4-1 hole and couldn’t recover Tuesday night in a 4-3 loss to Greenville.
Andrew Helman and Jacob Lucas combined to get 16 of the 18 Greenville outs by strikeout.
Helman had 11 strikeouts and six walks and Lucas had five strikeouts.
Hayden Frey, Matthew Hempker and Ryder Kirtley all tripled for Troy.
Troy baseball bounces back with 14-2 win over West Carrollton
3/30/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — The Troy baseball pitching staff continued to shine against West Carrollton Thursday in MVL play.
And the Trojans got the bats going as well.
Troy bounced back from a 4-3 loss to Greenville Tuesday with a 14-2 five-inning win over West Carrollton at the Market Street Diamond. The Trojans are now 2-1 overall and in the MVL.
In 18 innings of pitching this season, Troy pitchers have recorded 38 strikeouts.
“They are doing a great job,” Troy baseball coach Ty Welker said. “Our defense hasn’t had to make many plays. I am interested to see how we do when we have to make plays.”
Brian Allen was no exception against the Pirates.
West Carrollton never hit the ball out of the infield. The only hit was an infield single and he had a perfect game through three innings before three errors allowed West Carrollton to score two runs in the fourth.
Allen finished with nine strikeouts, one walk and one hit batter.
“We had a few mistakes there,” Welker said. “Brian did a great job throwing it to the mitt.”
And Troy got some timely hitting.
In the opening inning, Eli Smith singled and walks to Ryder Kirtley, Hayden Frey and Owen Harlamert forced in a run.
Connor Hutchinson had a RBI single, Eli Donnan’s fielder’s choice scored a run and Matthew Hempker’s two-out two run single made it
5-0.
“We approach every game the same regardless of the competition,” Welker said. “Those early game hits can be big. If we had gotten those against Greenville Tuesday night, there surely would have been a different outcome.”
Troy scored three runs in the second.
Kirtley singled and scored on Frey’s single and Owen Harlamert followed with a blast over the fence in centerfield for a two-run homer to make it 8-0.
“We know Owen (Harlamert) is capable of that,” Welker said. “The impressive thing about it was in the past, his homers have been to left field. This one was to centerfield. That was definitely a power shot.”
Troy added three runs in the third to make it 11-0.
Kirtley had a RBI single and two runs scored when Harlamert reached on a throwing error.
After West Carrollton got two unearned runs in the top of the fourth, Troy answered with three runs in the home fourth for the final margin of 14-2.
Damian Hanf was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Kirtley and Evan Kaiser had fielder’s choices to score runs.
The Trojans were scheduled to play at West Carrollton Friday and Coldwater Saturday — weather permitting.
And looking to keep the bats and pitching working together.
Monday Baseball Roundup
4/4/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
The Troy baseball team opened its trip to Tennessee with a 3-1 win over Highland, Ky. Monday.
Hayden Frey and Trayce Mercer combined on a two-hitter, striking out 10 and walking three.
Frey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Matthew Hempker and Ryder Kirtley were both 2-for-3.
Tuesday Baseball Roundup
4/5/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
The Troy baseball team lost to North Paulding, Ga., 7-5 Tuesday.
Ryder Kirtley hit a home run and Hayden Frey doubled for Troy’s only two hits.
Connor Hutchinson and Jacob Lucas combined on a nine-hitter, striking out 13 and walking six.
Friday Diamond Roundup
4/8/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
XENIA — The Troy baseball team returned to Ohio in impressive fashion with a 16-4 win at Xenia Friday.
The Trojans improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the MVL.
Caleb Akins was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Eli Donnan was 2-for-4.
Haden Frey was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Owen Harlamert had two RBIs.
Matthew Hempker was 3-for-4 with four RBIs, Connor Hutchinson was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, Ryder Kirtley was 3-for-4 with two triples and two RBIs and Eli Smith was 2-for-2.
Trayce Mercer pitched a five-hitter, striking out five.
Troy baseball team handles Fairborn in five innings
4/11/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — After a challenging four games last week, the Troy baseball team took care of business Monday at the Market Street diamond.
The Trojans improved to 5-4 overall and 4-1 in the MVL with a 15-2 win over Fairborn in five innings.
“We did what we are supposed to do,” Troy baseball coach Ty Welker said. “That is one thing we always talk to the kids about. Playing at our level and not worrying about the other team.”
Last week Troy went 1-2 on a trip to Georgia.
After run-ruling Xenia last Friday, the Trojans dropped a 4-2 game at Coldwater Saturday.
“Any time we have had a really good season, we have gone somewhere and got it handed to us,” Welker said. “Those teams we played in Georgia were all the top teams from their respective states with multiple Division I players.”
And Coldwater presented the same kind of challenge Saturday.
“What can you say about Coldwater?,” Welker said. “They are always fundamentally sound. We had one bad inning and they took advantage of it.”
Connor Hutchinson, Nick May and JD Harvey combined on a six-hitter, striking out eight.
“Connor (Hutchinson) really threw well,” Welker said. “It was good to get Nick (May) and JD (Harvey) work. You never know when we are going to need them to throw an inning in a game that matters. We are deep in pitching. We know that.”
Troy got all the runs they would need in the home first.
Caleb Akins walked and Ryder Kirtley singled.
Hayden Frey’s sacrifice fly scored Akins and Kirtley stole second and third, before scoring on a wild pitch.
Owen Harlamert walked and would come around to score on Matthew Hempker’s single to make it 3-0.
Troy put the game away in the second inning.
The Trojans sent 18 batters to the plate, scoring 12 runs.
Eli Smith started things with a single and came around to score on a wild pitch.
Following a single by Hutchinson, Akins had a RBI double.
Harlamert had a two-run double and a RBI single in the inning, Kirtley had two RBI singles and Hutchisnon had a two-run single.
Troy had nine hits in the inning.
“We hit a lot of line drives today and ran the bases well,” Welker said. ‘That is what you want to see.”
The Trojans are scheduled to travel to Fairborn Tuesday and West Carrollton Wednesday, before beginning a big two-game series with Butler at Vandalia Friday.
Looking to build on playing the great competition they saw a week ago.
Wednesday Sports Roundup
4/13/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
WEST CARROLLTON — The Troy baseball team cruised to a 25-0 win over West Carrollton in five innings Wednesday.
Andrew Helman and Evan Kaiser combined on a three-hitter, striking out 11 and walking one.
Troy took advantage of 16 walks.
Caleb Akins was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and Eli Donnan was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
Hayden Frey, Thomas Mascarella, Trayce Mercer and Connor Moeller all had two RBIs.
Connor Hutchinson had a double and two RBIs, Damian Hanf had three RBIs and Ryder Kirtley had a double.
Troy baseball gets 10 inning win over Vandalia-Butler
4/15/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
VANDALIA — It was another marathon game between Vandalia-Butler and Troy at Butler High School Friday.
For the second straight year, the game went extra innings with Troy coming out on top 5-2.
The win improved Troy to 8-4 overall and 7-1 in the MVL, leaving Troy and Tippecanoe both with one loss in the conference.
Butler dropped to 8-3 overall and 4-2 in the MVL.
Hayden Frey scored three of Troy’s five runs and was 2-for-4 at the plate.
Connor Hutchinson was 2-for-3 with a double, Eli Donnan had a double and two RBIs and Caleb Akins doubled.
Frey, Jacob Lucas and Trayce Mercer combined on a 10-hitter, striking out 16 and walking four.
Troy will host Butler on Monday.
Weather puts hold on Troy baseball matchup with Vandalia-Butler
4/19/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
VANDALIA — The Troy-Vandalia-Butler baseball games always seem to play a pivotal role in determing the MVL champion.
And Troy coach Ty Welker and Vandalia-Butler coach Trent Dues were happy to not see the game played Monday in bitterly cold, rainy conditions.
The game will now be played at the Market Street Diamond on Thursday, with softball hosting Butler on Wednesday.
Currently, the MVL is a tight race with Troy and Tippecanoe having one conference loss and Greenville, Piqua and Butler all having two losses.
“Duesy (Butler coach Trent Dues) and I have had that conversation before,” Welker said. “We never see a game like this played in rain or bad weather.”
Troy beat Butler 5-2 in 10 innings at Butler Friday night — after winning an 11-inning game down there last year.
“It seems like we have had a lot of classic battles,” Welker said. “I remember a 13-inning game at Troy. We have had 10 and 11 inning games down there and we have had some nine inning games.”
The game was tied 2-2 Friday when Troy scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning.
It started with a Caleb Akins double. After he went to third, Hayden Frey was intentionally walked, bringing Owen Harlamert to the plate.
“They walked Hayden to set up the double play,” Welker said. “They called time to out to the mound and talk things over. I called Owen (Harlamert) down to third and told him and Caleb (Akins) it would be a good time for a squeeze bunt.”
Harlamert put the bunt down on the first pitch and all hands were safe.
“It was a high pitch, it was tough one to bunt,” Welker said. “But, Owen (Harlamert) is one of our best bunters and did a great job. They tried to make a play at the plate but Kaleb (Akins) beat it.”
After Matthew Hempker was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded with two out and Eli Donnan came to the plate
.
Donnan drilled a double, scoring both Frey and Harlamert to make it 5-2. Hempker was thrown out trying to score to end the inning, but the damage was done.
“That was a huge hit by Eli (Donnan),” Welker said. “Especially against Hunter Richardson. He is one of the best (pitchers) around.”
Frey had pitched the first four innings for Troy and combined with Trayce Mercer and Jacob Lucas on a 10-hitter, striking out 16 and walking four
.
“Hayden (Frey) threw well,” Welker said. “His pitch count was around 70 pitches. Trayce (Mercer) came in and did his job and Jacob (Lucs) pitched the last two innings.”
Frey also scored three of Troy’s five runs and Connor Hutchinson was 2-for-3 with a double.
Welker said the three-day wait won’t affect the pitching.
“We were expecting to see Hunter Richardson today,” Welker said. “We were going to throw (Andrew) Helman and we will throw him Thursday. It just jumbles things up on the schedule a little. We have games Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week and Monday and Tuesday next week.
“They are all league games. But, this year we have a little more depth on the pitching staff to be able to handle that.”
One thing is certain.
It is Troy-Butler, so you can expect another battle to the end.
Tuesday Baseball Roundup
4/19/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — The Troy baseball team prepped for a big game with Vandalia-Butler Thursday with an 11-0 five inning win over Sidney Tuesday.
Caleb Akins was 2-for-3 with a double and Hayden Frey was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Owen Harlamert was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs and Eli Donnan tripled.
Brian Allen pitched a three-hitter, striking out 11 and walking two.
Troy baseball holds on for 6-4 win over Vandalia-Butler in MVL play
4/20/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — Nothing ever comes easy when it comes to Troy-Vandalia Butler baseball.
And while it may have looked otherwise for six innings for the Trojans at the Market Street Diamond, their fans were all holding their breath before the final three outs finally came in a 6-4 Troy win.
The Trojans are now 10-4 overall and 9-1 in the MVL, while Butler drops to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in the MVL.
The game had started with a Ryder Kirtley home run in the first inning and Troy rode that momentum to leads of 5-0 and 6-1 heading into the seventh inning, before things seemed to take a bizarre turn.
Up to that point, Butler had just four hits.
But a walk, a bunt single and a throwing error on a bunt single made the score 4-2.
Jacob Lucas entered the game for Troy and got a strikeout, but the ball went to the backstop, with the batter reaching first and a runner scoring.
Austin Flohre followed with a RBI single and suddenly it was 6-4 with no outs, the tying runs on first and second and the 3-4 hitters coming up.
But, Lucas was not flustered.
“I don’t let things bother me,” Lucas said. “I just keep things closed in. I focus on what I am doing. I am just focused on throwing out there.”
He got a strikeout for the first out.
Then, Butler hit a looper to first baseman Hayden Frey.
As the Butler runner on first scrambled to get back, Frey dropped the ball.
“I asked Hayden (Frey) if he dropped the ball on purpose,” Welker said with a laugh. “He told me he didn’t, but I would have been fine with it if he did.”
When Frey dropped the ball, the runner on first panicked and took for second base.
Frey stepped on first base to retire the batter, then threw to shortstop Kirtley at second base and he tagged the runner out to end the game with a crazy double play.
“I just knew I had to make a play in that situation,” Frey said. “That is all I was thinking about.”
And nobody was happier than Lucas.
“That is a pretty unusual way for a game to end, I will say that,” Lucas said with a smile.
Lucas’ composre didn’t surprise Welker.
“That is just what Jacob Lucas does,” Welker said. “He came in and threw strikes.”
Troy started Andrew Helman was outstanding in his five innings.
He struck out 11 and allowed just two hits — one an infield single — while hitting one batter and walking one.
But, Welker decided 86 pitches was enough.
“That is his first game against good competition where he has thrown that many pitches,” Welker said.
Kirtley had a two-out homer in the first inning to get things started.
“He threw me an off-speed pitch,” Kirtley said. “I kind of hacked at it, it got up in there and it just kept carrying.”
It disappeared over the centerfield fence.
“It felt great,” Kirtley said. “We had a big crowd here. It got us all pumped up.”
Welker agreed.
“He didn’t have a good game (the first game with Butler),” Welker said. “I guess he just wanted to show everybody what he could do. It was wind aided, but we will take it.”
Frey followed with a double and Eli Donnan had a double in the second, but the score remained 1-0.
Troy took advantage of two Butler errors in the third inning and Kirtley, Owen Harlamert and Matthew Hempker all had RBI singles to make it 4-0.
“We took advantage of their mistakes and we had some timely hits,” Welker said.
Troy got a run in the fourth when Connor Hutchinson started things with a double and would scored on a bases loaded walk to Harlamert.
After Butler got a run in the top of the fifth, Troy answered to make it 6-1.
Evan Kaiser doubled and scored on a Caleb Akins single.
But, Troy left a total of seven runners on in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
“I don’t want to complain, but we were one hit from really breaking it open.”
In the Butler sixth, Flohre single and Hunter Richardson doubled, but Trayce Mercer retired the next three batters to get out of it unscathed.
“Trayce (Mercer) did a great job pitching out of that inning,” Welker said.
Helman, Mercer and Lucas would combine on a seven-hitter, striking out 14 and walking two.
Butler used four pitchers to combined on an eight-hitter, striking out six and walking four.
Troy and Tipp both have one loss in the MVL and are scheduled to play Monday and Tuesday — and Piqua has just two losses in conference play.
“I am sure both of those teams feel like they are in good position,” Welker said. “They both play us twice. But, we are not worried about anyone else. We are focused on what we do.”
Lucas agreed.
“It is big to sweep Butler,” he said. “But, we expected to sweep Butler. When we take the field, we expect to win.”
A little excitement at the end never hurts anything.
Troy baseball tops Tippecanoe 13-3 in five innings
4/25/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — For the second straight night, Tippecanoe baseball stayed close to Troy through four innings Tuesday at the Market Street Diamond.
But, Troy erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning for a 13-3 win.
The Trojans maintained a one-game lead over Piqua in the MVL, improving to 12-4 overall and 11-1 in the MVL.
Tippecanoe dropped to 8-8 overall and 6-3 in the MVL.
Troy had taken an early 5-0 lead Tuesday before Tippecanoe battled back.
Troy got one run in the first when Connor Hutchinson singled, stole second and scored on Caleb Akins RBI single.
The Trojans added four more runs in the second, threatening to break the game open.
Eli Donnan singled and Evan Kaiser walked.
Connor Moeller put down a sacrifice bunt.
With two out, one run scored when Hutchinson reached on an error, Akins drilled a two-run single and Hayden Frey had a RBI single to make it 5-0.
But, Tippecanoe answered right back with three runs in the third to make it a 5-3 game.
D.J. Martin was hit by a pitch and with two outs, Bryce Eckert singled him in.
Following a single by Jaxon Hill, the Red Devils executed a double steal with Eckert scoring and Hill stealing second.
Max Dunaway singled Hill in to make it a 5-3 game.
It stayed that way until the Troy fifth inning when the Trojans sent 11 batters to the plate to end the game with eight runs.
Owen Harlamert was hit by a pitch and Matthew Hempker had an infield single.
Eli Donnan reached on an error and Evan Kaiser’s fielder’s choice scored a run.
Mohler had a RBI double and a run scored when Jacob Lucas reached on an error.
Hutchinson had a RBI single and Akins followed with a two-run single.
Following walks to Frey and Owen Harlamert, Hempker had a walkoff two-run single to make it 13-3 and end the game.
Akins swung the big bat for Troy, going 3-for-3 with five RBIs.
Hutchinson was 2-for-2 and Hempker was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Andrew Helman pitched a four-hitter, striking out six and hitting one batter.
Ecker was 2-for-3 for Tippecanoe.
Dunaway, Eli Voisard and Josh Dietz combined on an 11-hitter, with four strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters.
Thursday Sports Roundup
4/28/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY— The Troy baseball team improved to 13-4 with a 3-1 win over Miamisburg Thursday in non-conference action.
Caleb Akins and Connor Hutchinson were both 2-for-3 and Hayden Frey had a double.
Trayce Mercer and Brian Allen combined on a five-hitter, striking out 11.
Welker gets 300th win as Troy baseball picks up three victories
5/3/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — It was a milestone night at the Market Street Diamond Thursday as the Troy baseball coach Ty Welker picked up his 299th and 300th wins in a sweep of Stebbins in MVL action.
The Trojans are now 16-4 overall and 14-1 in MVL play.
Troy won the first game 21-1.
Hayden Frey was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and Ryder Kirtley was 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Owen Harlamert was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, Tristan Harding and Thomas Mascarella had three RBIs each and Damian Hanf had two RBIs.
Nick May and Evan Kaiser combined on a two-hitter, striking out 10 and walking five.
Troy won the second game 10-0.
Connor Hutchinson was 3-for-4 with two doubles and May had a double and two RBIs.
Eli Donnan and Ethan Nosker both doubled and Zane Huelsman was 2-for-3.
JD Harvey pitched a two-hitter, striking out nine.
Hutchinson stays hot, Troy wraps up MVL title with win over Xenia
5/8/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
After being co-champs in the MVL last year, the Trojans won their first outright conference title in baseball since 1991 — 32 years for those who don’t care to do the match.
After Friday’s win over Piqua, Connor Hutchinson had said the Trojans weren’t interested in sharing the title.
“We want our own title,” he said after the win over Piqua.
And Ty Welker and the Trojans finished it off Monday with a 13-7 win over Xenia at the Market Street Diamond.
Troy was 19-4 overall and 16-1 in the MVL heading into a home game with Piqua Tuesday, before hosting Fairmont Wednesday in a matchup of the top two seeds in the Dayton sectional.
“It has been a long time since we won an outright title,” Welker said. “We have a number of co-titles (and division titles).”
And the season didn’t exactly start out the way the Trojans expected.
A loss to Greenville in the second game of the season left Troy 1-1 in the MVL, before they reeled off 16 straight conference wins. The Trojans only other loss to an Ohio team this spring is to Coldwater.
“Coach Welker had an unhealthy message for us out in the outfield at Greenville after we lost that game,” Hutchinson said. “After that, we became the team we should have been this winter.”
Welker had another message when they arrive back at Troy High School that night.
“I probably had to watch my language when I talked to them after the game,” he said. “But, when we got back to the school, I also told them there is no group of guys I would rather coach or be competing for a MVL title with.”
And Monday was the culmination of that, although it didn’t come easy.
Xenia was leading 2-1 going to the home third inning.
“We started off down 2-0,” Welker said. “I can’t tell you the last time were down 2-0 at home. That showed some mettle to come back from that.”
And once again, Hutchinson continued on a hitter at the plate.
After going 5-for-5 against Piqua on Friday, he was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run and two walks Monday.
“Like I said, I am just sticking with my routine,” Hutchinson said. “I have confidence in all my teammates. Saturday I went 0-for-3 against Milford and I wasn’t the least bit worried. We won 5-1.”
Welker said Hutchinson has been doing it all year.
“He is hitting almost .600 in the conference,” Welker said. “That is legit.”
Troy got back within 2-1 in the home first, when Caleb Akins reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored on a dropped fly ball.
Troy took the lead for good in the third.
Eli Donnan singled and Hutchinson doubled.
Donnan would scored on a wild pitch and Akins had a RBI single to make it 3-2.
In the fourth, Donnan was hit by a pitch with two out, bringing Hutchinson to the plate.
On a 1-2 count, he drove the ball over the leftfield fence to make it 5-2.
“I knew what was coming,” Hutchinson said. “I was down in the count. He shook the catcher off three times. I knew it was going to be a slider. He hung it and I barrelled it over the fence.”
Xenia got a run in the top of the fifth to close within 5-3, before Troy broke the game open.
In the Troy fifth, Hayden Frey reached on an error, Owen Harlamert had the first of his two doubles.
Matthew Hempker had a two-run single, Donnan had a sacrifice fly to score a run and Hutchinson had a RBI double.
Xenia closed within 9-5 with two runs in the top of the sixth, before Troy scored four more runs in home sixth to make it 13-5.
Ryder Kirtley singled and stole second.
After Frey walked, Harlamert had a RBI double.
Hempker’s fielder’s choice scored a run and Eli Smith, who singled, would eventually scored on a wild pitch.
After the first four Xenia baatters reached in the seventh, JD Harvey came in to get three of the next four batters out and finish off the MVL championship as the celebration began.
Frey, Trayce Mercer and Harvey combined on a nine-hitter, striking out nine walking four and hitting a batter.
“We are not done yet,” Welker said. “We aren’t looking any farther than Piqua Tuesday, We want to finish this thing off. We have Fairmont at home Wednesday. I don’t know who will be pitching for either team, but that should be a good team between two really good teams.”
After the Trojans accomplished something they hadn’t done since 1991.
“I love this team,” Hutchinson said. “There is no group of guys I would rather be playing with. I love all these guys.”
And they have no problem sharing their success with each other.
Troy baseball receives second seed in D-I sectional
5/8/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
The Southwest District Sectional Baseball Pairings were released Sunday. DIVISION I
Both Troy and Piqua are North 2 Bracket.
Troy, 18-4, is the second seed and took a bye.
The Trojans will open the tournament at home May 18 at 5 p.m. against the winner of 13 seed Wayne (7-12) and 16 seed Trotwood-Madison (7-8).
If Troy wins, they will host the district semifinal at 5 p.m. May 23.
Piqua, 15-7, is the seventh seed will host 10th seed Northmont, 13-8, at 5 p.m. May 16 at Hardman Field.
The winner will play at sixth seed Beavercreek (13-8) at 5 p.m. May 18.
Monday Diamond Roundup
5/16/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — In a tournament tuneup, the Troy baseball team lost to Chaminade-Julienne 4-2 in nine innings Monday at the Market Street diamond.
Troy, 20-7, will host a D-I tournament game at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Troy had trailed 2-0 before Eli Smith and Eli Donnan had RBIs in the Troy sixth inning to tie it.
C-J scored two runs in the ninth to win it.
Owen Harlamert had a double for the Trojans.
JD Harvey, Brian Allen, Jacob Lucas and Nick May combined on an eight-hitter, striking out 12 and walking four.
Troy baseball advances with 3-0 win over Wayne in D-I sectional action
5/18/23 Miami Valley Today By Robbin Kiser
TROY — Eli Smith provided the punch.
And Andrew Helman and Jacob Lucas handled the pitching duties as Troy baseball advanced to the district semifinals for the first time since 2019 with a 3-0 win over Wayne.
Troy, seeded second, will host sixth seed Beavercreek in a district semifinal game at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Beavercreek knocked off Piqua 6-1 Thursday night.
“Two years ago, we won our first game and then we lost a game to Franklin that we had a good chance to win,” Troy baseball coach Ty Welker said. “Then last year, Sidney just outplayed us. So, this was a big win.”
And Welker is thankfull just to have his ace available for the postseason.
“Andrew pitched a great game tonight,” Welker said. “This is his first tournament action. He has been hurt for the postseason the last two years.”
Helman held Wayne without a hit through the first six innings, before things got interesting in the seventh.
Which is Lucas’ specialty.
Troy was leading 3-0, but an error, a base hit and walk loaded the bases with one out.
“It would have been nice to have Andrew (Helman) finish the game,” Welker said. “He pitched a one-hitter (with 12 strikeouts and one walk). But, Jacob (Lucas) is our closer. In that situation, we are going to go to him and I think Andrew understood that. I don’t think Jacob threw a single strike warming up. But, he is a competitor.”
And Lucas — as they say — did what he does.
He got a pop up that he caught and finished off the win with a strikeout.
“I enjoy those situations,” he said. “They had told me to be ready. Really, I didn’t look at that as any different from a league game. But, this is the first tournament win I have been part of. So, that is special.”
Smith had a big game at the plate, producing runs in his first two at bats.
“Eli (Smith) was overdue — he would probably tell you three years overdue,” Welker said with a laugh.
Smith agreed.
“It has been a long time coming,” he said.
He gave Troy the only run they would need in the second inning, with a homer to deep left-center field.
“He kind of hung the pitch and I was able it hit it out,” Smith said.
Welker said that was important.
“That was big (to get the first run),” he said.
Then in the fourth inning, Owen Harlamert singled, stole second and scored on a base-hit.
“A little opposite-field action,” Smith said. “I had to wait on it. I hung back on it and was able to get a hit. We just needed a hit in that situation to get the run in.”
Then the Trojans added a big insurance run in the sixth.
Caleb Akins walked and would come around to score on a base hit by Harlamert.
“We talked about it before the inning,” Welker said. “That we needed to get another run. If we don’t get that run, the tying run is on second with one out and the go-ahead run is on first in the seventh.”
Cole Neely pitched a five-hitter, with four strikeouts and two walks for Wayne, who dropped to 10-15 on the season.
“You have to give them a lot of credit,” Welker said. “It would have been easy for them hang their heads in the seventh and they didn’t.”
The Trojans will take a 21-7 record into Tuesday’s game with 17-10 Beavercreek — looking for a berth in the district title game.
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