Ethel will begin action in the MHSAA 1A baseball playoffs, beginning with a home game scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, probably against Lumberton. The best-of-three series will continue at Lumberton Friday, with a third game, if necessary, at Ethel Saturday.
Prior to the playoffs, the Tigers split two one-run games with Sebastopol and had an easy Region 5-1A win over McAdams.
Ethel won the first Sebastopol game in dramatic fashion after Sebastopol scored two runs in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Reeves Threadgill drew a two-out walk. With the Tigers down to their last strike, Alex Schuster doubled, scoring Threadgill. Gabe Cain followed with a walk-off double.
Schuster also had a home run, drove in two runs, and scored twice. Four Ethel pitchers combined on a four-hitter with 16 strikeouts, nine by Threadgill in the first three innings.
Ethan Boleward had three hits, scored two runs and pitched the first six innings, allowing two runs on three hits for Sebastopol.
The rematch produced a 3-2 Sebastopol victory. The Bobcats broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fourth. Ethel scored one in the sixth, but could not push across the tying run.
Three Sebastopol pitchers, including Boleware, held Ethel to four hits.
Both teams had six runs and nine hits in the two games, showing how evenly matched they are. If both win their opening round series, they will meet again in the second round beginning May 6. Sebastopol opens against West Bolivar.
The Tigers defeated McAdams 19-1 in a four-inning game. Brian Buddington was the winning pitcher, allowing one hit in three innings. Cyrus Rone and Hayden Graves homered.
As the 5-1A winner, Ethel plays Lumberton, the fourth-place team from 8-1A. Threadgill will get the start Thursday, followed by Schuster Friday.
Coach Chris Schuster is not sure who will pitch if a third game is necessary.
“Hopefully, we won’t have a third game,” he said.
