Ethel not only defeated Nanih Waiya in baseball for the first time since 2016, the Tigers swept two games from the Warriors and both ended after five innings by the 10-run mercy rule.Ethel won the first game 13-2 with eight runs in the fifth, and the second 11-1 with two in the bottom of the fifth.Reeves Threadgill allowed five hits and one earned run, with five strikeouts in the 13-2 game. The Tigers had 12 hits and took advantage of six Nanih Waiya errors for 10 unearned runs.“They would make an error and we would get two or three hits. We were really hitting the ball,” said Coach Chris Schuster.Cyrus Rone had a single and a home run, with two RBIs, and two runs scored. J.B. McBride a double, two singles, an RBI and a run scored. Gabe Cain and Alex Schuster doubled, and Tyler Weaver and Kameron McCuller each had two hits.Schuster's double came during the eight-run inning.He was the big story in the second game, doing an imitation of California Angels' star Shohei Ohtani with a double, homer and four RBIs while pitching a no-hitter with four strikeouts.The game ended when Schuster was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. “It was 10-1, Alex was up, bases loaded and two outs, 2-2 count,” Coach Schuster said. “I told Alex he has to pitch to you. If he walks you the game is over.”Instead, it was a walk off HBP.Cain also homered, Braxton Rone had three hits, and Hayden Graves notches single, a double, and two RBIs.Ethel improved to 5-0 in Region 5-1A, half a game ahead of French Camp (4-0). The teams met Tuesday at French Camp and will play again Friday at Ethel.“District championship is on the line,” coach Schuster said. The games will also play a role in seedings when MHSAA 1A playoffs begin Apr. 29.
