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A pair of fine pitching performances

ATHENS – Marietta High faced a good pitcher.

But then, Athens High did, too.

Something had to give, and it did with the visiting Tigers (21-8) dropping a 1-0 decision to the host Bulldogs (17-11) in an Ohio Division II district final at Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium Wednesday night.

MHS junior right-hander Trent Dawson tossed a one-hitter and lost, while AHS junior righty Brendan Sano fanned 13 and was the winner.

“We had a lot of bad at-bats today,” said Tiger shortstop Isaac Danford, who had one of his team’s five hits off Sano. “We were watching a lot of pitches.

“Sano’s a good pitcher. He worked ahead a lot. And we just got behind and he took advantage of that.”

Added Marietta skipper Jim Thrash, “Sano is a very talented kid, and he throws the ball well. He did a nice job.”

The Athens hurler was needless to say tickled to death with the victory.

“It was a great game for me,” Sano said. “Anytime you get a win, that’s a great game.

“And, definitely, anytime you throw a shutout, it’s great. I don’t know what you can compare it to.”

Sano gave up a couple of hits and hit a batter to load up the bases in the opening inning, but was able to get out of the jam. The only other time that he allowed a Tiger to reach third base was in the third inning.

“We always love our chances when Brendan’s on the mound,” said Athens skipper Chris Stewart. “He’s solid. Here at the end of the season when the games start to mean a little bit more, he’s the kind of competitor that when there is more at stake, he steps ups to play.”

Danford said that Sano “had a good curveball but his fastball was straight.”

“We’ve just didn’t swing the bat like we normally do,” he added.

Neither did Athens, which had just an infield single in the first inning. That turned out to be its only hit of the championship game as Dawson had the Bulldog batters hitting the ball mostly in the air – 11 flyouts, five groundouts, and two whiffs.

“Trent threw a great game,” Danford said.

Thrash agreed and added, “Trent pitched lights out, and we made plays defensively that we needed to make. We just didn’t put the bat on the ball enough to support him and make them play defense.”

Athens scored the only run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth without the benefit of a hit. A walk, a sacrifice bunt, a groundout, and a wild pitch.

“Trent’s got three pitches, and for most of the game all three were working,” Thrash said. “There was a couple of innings where I don’t think he missed a spot. He was right on the mark.

“Unfortunately, one of the two walks that he gave up, that led to our demise.”

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