Coshocton continues winning ways

COSHOCTON - Coshocton baseball coach Scott Loomis is very confident in his pitching rotation.

He expects the rotation that includes four seniors — Talon Babcock, Logan Hough, Alex McPeak and Conner Roahrig — to pitch into the sixth or seventh inning each game.

On Friday, it was Hough, who pitched all seven innings, struck out five batters and only gave up three hits on the way to a 6-0 win against Tuscarawas Valley.

"We have four legit starters, and any time they go out there we know they are going to get deep in the game for us," Loomis said.

Friday's win, on Senior Day, gave Coshocton its ninth win in the last 10 games. Its lone loss was at home to county rival Ridgewood 4-2, but during that span Loomis and Hough have seen a different team. One that is confident, energetic and having fun playing baseball.

"We are playing our best baseball at the right time of the year. The boys are having fun together and enjoying every moment," Loomis said. "We have taken the approach that we are just going to enjoy playing baseball. We know we have talent, and there were times where we were playing the game uptight. We are just trying to enjoy it."

Hough said: "We are all happy. We all have energy. We are just enjoying playing baseball with the boys and hoping we can go as far as we can."

They had it all Friday against the Trojans.

"Our confidence is as high as it can get right now," Hough said.

Talon Babcock got the scoring started with an RBI single scoring Conner Roahrig, who singled to begin the bottom of the first inning.

The one thing that has been missing for the Redskins throughout the season has been consistent hitting Loomis said. They would go without a hit in the second and third innings, but Hough's confidence never wavered on the mound. He seemed to get stronger as the game went on.

"I thought I threw pretty good," Hough said. "From what the guys told me, it was decent. I'm just glad I could let me and my fellow classmates go out on top."

As has been the case in the final 10 games of the season, Coshocton's bats weren't quiet for long. Hunter Haas doubled in the fourth and scored after a Trojan error as they tried to run down Derryck Bowman between first and second base.

In the fifth inning, the Redskins continued to pile on the base runners. Brandon Filimon singled to begin the fifth inning, Roahrig followed with a single of his own and Alex McPeak, who put down two sacrifice bunts in the game, knocked in Filimon.

Andrew Mason followed McPeak with a two-run single, in the process giving Coshocton a 5-0 lead.

Hitting with runners in scoring position has been the difference between the Coshocton baseball team seen in mid-April and now, Loomis said.

"Our bats are starting to come around," Loomis said. "We've had some clutch hitting, and that really helps take pressure off the defense and the pitcher."

"After one guy got a hit, we all realized we could do it and everybody started hitting," Hough said.

Coshocton would push another run across in the bottom of the sixth inning after Bowman, who doubled earlier in the inning, scored on a bases-loaded walk.

Hough closed the game and the regular season with two consecutive strikeouts. Strikeouts that would help boost Coshocton's confidence that much more heading into the postseason opener Tuesday at home against West Muskingum.

"We have to get Tuesday, and then we will go from there," Loomis said. "West M is playing good ball right now. We have to be ready to go."

cteaguerob@gannett.com

740-295-3442

Twitter: @cj_teague