CODY LEIST

PDT Sports Writer

LANCASTER — The Valley sports program accomplished many things this season.

Among the items was a trip to the Division IV Regional Baseball tournament. The Indians looked to have control of their semifinal at Beavers Field.

Then came the third inning. Berlin Hiland scored eight runs in the frame and knocked out Valley starter Patrick Riehl after 2 2/3 innings of work as the Hawks eliminated the Indians 13-3.

“Any momentum we had, we lost,” Valley coach Dean Schuler said. “It was one of those things where I don’t think a lot of people expected us to be in the Sweet Sixteen, which says a lot about these seniors.

“It says a lot about the other eight underclassmen that followed the seniors’ example. From the first game until today, there were so many guys that improved so much and have so much to be proud of.”

The Indians struck first in the bottom of the first. Riehl stepped up to the plate and hit a two-run single, scoring Adam Arnett and Alex Hartley, to give himself a 2-0 cushion to work with.

Entering the game, Riehl’s ERA was at 0.86. When he was relieved in the third, seven of the eight runs on the board were earned.

“I think more than anything, he struggled a little bit and probably lost a little bit of his composure,” Schuler said.

Among those who hurt the senior the most was his opposite number, BJ Miller, who was 2-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and a run scored. Luke Burch was also 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored in the victory.

Riehl scored in the fourth as the last tally for Valley. He, along with Hartley, Arnett, Luke Keller, CJ Burk, Tyler Rowe, Rob Dwyer and Michael Daniels have added to the tradition of the program.

As for Schuler, he stated afterward he has reapplied to coach the ball club next season.

“I want to keep coaching even though I’m done teaching,” Schuler said. “I’ve got a great love of baseball and baseball has been outstanding for me.”

Hiland will play Newark Catholic at 5 p.m. today. The Irish defeated Racine Southern 7-2 earlier in the afternoon.

Cody Leist can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 242, or cleist@heartlandpublications.com.

Berlin Hiland 0 0 8 0 3 0 2 — 13 11 1

Valley 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 3 4 1

Hiland — G. Troyer 1-5 (2B, RBI, R), Burch 3-5 (2B, RBI, 2 R), Miller 2-5 (2 2B, 4 RBI, R), J. Schlabach 1-3 (2B, 2 BB, RBI, 2 R), Schrock 2-4 (RBI, 2 R), Yoder 0-4 (R), Ropp 2-3 (2 2B, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R), R. Mast 0-1 (3 BB, 2 R).

Valley — Keller 1-3 (BB), A. Arnett 1-4 (R), Hartley 1-2 (HBP, R), Riehl 1-2 (BB, 2 RBI, R), Burk 0-2 (BB), Howard 0-1 (HBP), Daniels 0-0 (HBP).

W — Miller (7-1)

L — Riehl (6-2)

Records — Hiland 25-4; Valley 15-9.