Hancock fires 1-hitter at TCC

Defiance ran its season record to 11-1 on the year after defeating Toledo Central Catholic 8-0 on Thursday at Booster Field. Here’s the story that is going to run in Friday’s edition of The Crescent-News.

A one-hit pitching performance from right-hander Justin Hancock, solid defense and timely hitting lifted the Defiance High School baseball team to an 8-0 victory over Toledo Central Catholic on Thursday at Booster Field in Defiance.
Hancock improved to 4-0 after firing the one-hitter, allowing no runs while striking out 11 and walking just two. It was the type of performance that Defiance mentor Tom Held said Hancock is capable of and more.
“We knew coming into the season that Justin had the ability to be a number-one type pitcher, but today he really put everything together,” said Held. “There were two things that stood out today, first he kept his velocity all the way through the game for the first time really this season, and second his curveball really became an out pitch for him.
“We know that Justin has an exceptional change-up, but when he throws the curveball like he did today, he can really finish batters off,” added Held. “It was a great performance.”
Defiance (11-1) went in front 4-0 in the second innings and added single runs in the fourth and fifth and two-spot in the sixth on the way to the win over the Irish (2-7).
In the second, back-to-back walks to Corbin Stykemain and Dakota Westrick got the Bulldogs going before Stephen Leskow’s sacrifice bunt move both runners up 90 feet. After No. 9 hitter Ryan Cordray was hit by a pitch, that loaded the bases for DHS leading hitter Craig Gutman.
Gutman followed with a RBI single to score to Stykemain, before Alex Nofziger unloaded the bases with a three-run double and the 4-0 lead.
“We had our six, seven, eight and nine guys score five runs and they were on base seven times,” said Held. “That’s what we’re looking for. We still haven’t decided on a set lineup at the bottom of the order, but we’re getting closer. It may be a revolving door there right now, but those guys got it done tonight so that guys like Gut (Gutman) and Noffy (Nofziger) could do their thing.”
Gutman added his sixth homer of the season later in the contest for the Bulldogs who are back in action today in WBL play at Van Wert at 5 p.m.

Linescore
Tol. CC. 000 000 0 – 0 1 2
Defiance 040 112 x – 8 6 0
Records: Defiance 11-1, Toledo Central Catholic 2-7.
Winning pitcher: Justin Hancock (7 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 11 strikeouts, 2 walks).
Losing pitcher: Carr (4 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, 2 strikeouts, 4 walks).
Leading hitters: (Toledo Central Catholic, 1 hit) – Geis double. (Defiance, 6 hits) – Craig Gutman single, home run; Alex Nofziger double, 3 RBI.