Huskies earn No. 2 seed after late-season surge

With all the recency bias in sports today, it can sometimes be difficult for an entire season’s body of work to stand out. But the Harrison Central baseball team left little room for debate when Division V East District postseason seeding concluded.

The Huskies (15-8) closed the regular season strong with back-to-back wins over quality opponents, defeating Steubenville Big Red before knocking off Martins Ferry, 4-3, just hours before the postseason seeding deadline. Martins Ferry entered the week at 11-7 and appears poised for a postseason run as the No. 5 seed in Division V.

The late push paid off. Harrison Central secured the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye. The Huskies will open tournament play May 26 at Mazeroski Field against the winner of Tusky Valley and West Muskingum.

Senior pitcher Colten Rutter delivered one of his best performances of the season in the victory over Martins Ferry. Rutter, who frequently draws the toughest assignments on the mound, tossed a complete game, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out the final batter looking to secure the win.

The Huskies offense provided early support with a three-run first inning. Hunter Snyder, Colson Crothers and Gage Stoneking all scored in the opening frame. Snyder and Crothers singled, while Stoneking reached on an error. Sophomores Lance Smith and Kolton Mizer each drove in runs by putting the ball in play.

Martins Ferry responded with two runs in the fourth inning to tighten the score, but Rutter escaped further trouble by stranding a runner in scoring position with a groundout to third base.

Harrison added an insurance run in the fifth when Stoneking singled home Crothers for a 4-2 lead.

The Purple Riders threatened again in the sixth after Luca Shane tripled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Colby Kropka. But Rutter ended the inning by striking out Clayton Snyder on three pitches.

Martins Ferry put a runner aboard in the seventh, but the Huskies sealed the victory with a pickoff from catcher Kolton Mizer to first baseman Hunter Snyder before Rutter ended the game with another strikeout.

Harrison outhit Martins Ferry 7-2 in the win.

The Huskies later faced Division V top-ranked Waynedale in the third annual Maz Classic in Cadiz, falling 11-0 to the Bears.

Harrison Central closes the regular season with another challenging stretch, including two games against Toronto and matchups with West Virginia Class AA No. 1 Wheeling Central and Division I Olentangy Orange.