Zion Lutheran Flexes Its Muscle In District 2A-13 With Win Over Sheridan Hills

Zion Lutheran has had somewhat of a roller coaster season so far this year, but one thing the Lions have had no trouble with is their own district. Zion showed its district dominance again Tuesday with a 20-2 win over Sheridan Hills. The game did not officially count in the district standings, but it did serve notice as to who the team to beat will be come playoff time.

The Lions used an aggressive approach both at the plate and on the bases to cruise to the win. They set the tone in the first inning when they scored three runs. Ryan Ritter, who was in the middle of the scoring all day for the Lions, had the big hit in the first, an RBI double. Johnny Mendez and Robert Barradas also had hits in the three-run inning.

“We’re going to be aggressive every at-bat,” said Lions assistant Mike Dobie. “We’re up at the plate to swing the bat, we’re not up there to walk. Our coaching philosophy is that we are going to be aggressive, at the plate, on the base-paths, everywhere. On the mound, we’re coming at hitters, so it’s an overall aggressive approach that we teach.”

Barradas had the assignment on the mound in this one as well. In their half of the first, Sheridan Hills threatened to make it a game when they answered with a run of their own, scored by Jose Fernandez.

The game remained close until the fourth when Zion Lutheran scored two runs. In the fifth, the Lions scored two more and had suddenly built a 7-2 lead. Manny Rojas, Ritter, and Barradas all had singles in the frame.

Sheridan Hills’ pitchers struggled with their control for much of the afternoon, and the wildness led to four more runs for the Lions in the sixth. The Sharks were able to get out of the inning with the score 11-2, saving themselves from a mercy rule loss.

The relief of playing the game out only lasted for one inning, however, as Zion sent 14 batters to the plate in the seventh, scoring nine runs in the process. Rojas, Jack Cabrera, and Alex Ernestine reached base twice each in the inning, with Cabrera scoring two runs.

Although the score was lopsided at the end, Sheridan Hills believes they are talented enough to compete with the Lions for a district championship this season. Being that this game did not mean anything in the district standings, neither team’s ace took the mound. If the two meet in the district final next month, there is a strong possibility that the Sharks’ Christopher Meyer will face Lions ace Eric Hepple.

“When we play a solid game innings one through seven, we can compete with anybody,” said Sheridan Hills head coach Tim Talpesh. “Today, we played poorly defensively. We need to make sure we clean up some of the mistakes. I think, outside of today, we’re going in the right direction. We’ve seen some tougher competition lately, and that’s going to make us a better team come playoff time.”

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