For the second time in two games, Hagerstown found themselves trailing after the first inning, but for the second game in a row the Tigers fought back to win the game. Hagerstown hosted Connersville on Tuesday, March 31, in a game played on Lloyd Michael Field.
The Tigers sent hard-throwing sophomore Kaden Hall to the mound to face the Spartans. Parker Flanigan beat out an infield hit to open the game and Noah Patterson reached base on a fielding error.
One out later, Zaine Bentley hammered a double to center field to drive Flanigan and Patterson across the plate to give the Spartans a quick 2-0 lead. The Tigers used an error and two walks to load the bases in the bottom of the first inning but could not score.
The Spartans added to their lead with a single run in the bottom of the second inning. After two outs, Flanigan reached base on an error and promptly stole second base. Patterson followed with a run-scoring single.
After striking out five batters in the first two innings, Hall left the game and Hagerstown brought in Nolan Cheeseman to face the Spartans in the top of the third inning. In four innings of work, Cheeseman only gave up two hits and held Connersville scoreless.
The Tigers batted around, exploding for five runs in the bottom of the third inning, to take the lead for good. Zach Logston and Cheeseman both singled and Jack Rector had a base-clearing triple.
Cheeseman was the winning pitcher, and Nick Tinkle pitched the seventh inning in relief. Hall, Cheeseman and Tinkle combined to record 11 strikeouts. Gavin Brannon took the loss.
Bentley had two of the Spartans’ seven hits. Rector led the Hagerstown offense with a three-run triple and a double. Graham Vinson walked four times for the Tigers who collected 11 walks as a team.
Hagerstown head coach Jay Hale said his team exercised restraint. “It is always a test when we play the bigger schools like Connersville,” Hale said. “We wanted to see how our batters would react to good pitching. We were patient at the plate and we hit the ball hard. We got our break in the third inning and we capitalized.”
Hagerstown (2-0) 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5
Connersville (0-1) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
Hagerstown hits: Cheeseman, Logston, Rector (2)
Connersville hits: Bentley (2), Landon Ellis, Flanigan, Brayden Keller, Jay McMillen, Patterson.
A version of this article appeared in the April 8 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.