NEW LISBON — Hillsboro scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally from a four-run deficit to win a D4 regional semifinal game over host New Lisbon 10–9 last Wednesday afternoon.

“We just put the bat on the ball the last few innings really well,” said Hillsboro head coach Bob Bothe. “We had some amazingly patient at-bats and put the ball in play hard on favorable counts. We showed a lot of maturity for a team down 7–1 at one point. We still played hard, took good quality swings, and came up big in the clutch with two young guys (Joe Helgerson and Ethan Thorson) coming up big for us when we needed them most. This was a roller coaster of emotions, ask anyone who was there. We just coming up with quality at-bats and timely hitting.”

Hillsboro scored first in the third inning and threatened to break open the game, but New Lisbon squashed the momentum with a rarely seen triple play.

Thorson singled, Brandon Stanek was hit by a pitch, and Helgerson reached on an infield single to load the bases with no outs.

Tommy Crandall then hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Thorson, but Stanek was caught in a run down between second and third as the relay throw was cut.

Helgerson then tried to catch the defense off guard by advancing to third, but was called out of the baseline via the three foot rule.

Hillsboro starting pitcher Tommy Crandall gave up two runs in the bottom of third and was chased in the bottom of the fourth after a single, error and a walk.

Chucky Strait come on in relief only to give up a few hits and walk himself leading to five runs for the Rockets and a 7–1 lead.

It could have been worse had catcher Matt Stekel not picked a runner off of third to end the inning.

Stanek hit a two out double in the fifth and was plated by Helgerson’s RBI single.

The Tigers then scored two more in the sixth off of reliever Cullen Pederson as Matthew Anderson and Stanek delivered RBI singles to make it a 7–4 ball game.

Tiger reliever Grant Jefferies was effective in the fifth and sixth innings, yielding only one run in the sixth on a well placed suicide squeeze by the Rockets.

Tommy Crandall led off the seventh by striking out but his brother Tyler hit a hard ground ball that the second baseman couldn’t handle and the rally was on.

Strait walked and Jefferies delivered a single to load the bases.

New Lisbon starting pitcher John Costello reentered the game but couldn’t get the next two batters as Matt Stekel reached on an error and Matthew Anderson walked resulting in two runs to make in 8–6.

Thorson then delivered a clutch hard hit single up the middle scoring Jefferies and Stekel to tie the game.

After Stanek struck out, Helgerson ripped a double down the left field line to score Max Stockwell and Thorson to give the Tigers a much-needed two run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Tyler Crandall relieved Jefferies and things started out fine with a line out to centerfielder Chucky Strait.

Then Zack Martin singled, followed by a hit batsmen, and a single by Cullen Pederson to load the bases.

A pop out to third made for two outs, but the Rockets' Zach Meehan singled to bring the game to within one but the Rocket rally ended when Myles Connor’s hard hit to centerfield was secured in air by Strait.

Jefferies (2–2) earned his second win of the season allowing just one run in two innings of relief.

Tyler Crandall earned his fourth save of the season.

Helgerson finished 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Jefferies also went 3-for-4 and scored two runs.

Thorson finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Stanek went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.