Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHILLCOTHE — It had been a great ride, but then somebody stepped on the brakes.
The Green Bobcats outstanding season came to a halt on Tuesday when the South Webster Jeeps put the brakes on their tournament ride with a 6-3 win in the Division IV district semifinals at Paint Stadium.
Green — finishing 18-5 and Southern Ohio Conference champions — won a meeting earlier this season 8-4 over the Jeeps, but this time it wasn’t meant to be for the Bobcats.
“We had as many hits as they did but we left too many runners on base,” said Green coach Dan McDavid. “We battled hard. We got down and kept coming back. They got a couple of clutch hits.
“It was a great season for us. We’re disappointed for our five seniors, but we won the league and had a great record. We’re proud of what we did. We’ve had seven straight winning seasons.”
The Jeeps got two runs in the first as Shane Zimmerman doubled, Trevor Coriell tripled and Jacob Ruth singled.
Green got a run back in the bottom of the inning on Tanner Kimbler’s single and Trevor Carver’s double.
South Webster scored a run in the fourth when Jacob Ruth reached on an error, moved up on a ground out and scored on Matt Shonkwiler’s base hit.
Green came back with a run in the bottom of the fifth.
Chase Clark singled, Kimbler hit into a fielder’s choice on a nice defensive play, and Tayte Carver and Trevor Carver both singled for the run.
But South Webster scored three times in the top of the sixth.
A hit batsman, a walk and a hit by Alek Blevins loaded the bases.  A wild pitch scored the first run and then Coriell had a two-run single.
Green battled back with a run in the bottom of the inning when Rylee Maynard, walked and Clark and Kimbler both singled.
The Bobcats threatened in the top of the seventh.
Trevor Carver and Bryce Ponn singled to start the ining but Jeeps’ pitcher Bradley Gee was able to retire the Bobcats and end the game.
Kimbler was 2-3, Tayte Carver 2-4, Trevor Carver 3-4 with a double and two RBI and Clark 2-2.
Coriell was 3-4 with a triple and three RBI for the Jeeps. Blevins was 2-3 while Zimmerman and Shonkwiler were 2-4.
The Bobcats lose seniors Trevor Carver, Tyler Darnell, Dalton Blevins, Austin Bailey and Tyler Imes.

“The seniors will be missed. They played a big role in our success not only this season but for four years,” said McDavid.

South Webster will now play the Portsmouth Notre Dame-Racine Southern winner at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Paint Stadium.
S. Webster    200    103    0    =    6    11    0
Green       100    011    0    =    3    11    1
Bradley Gee and Alek Blevins. Tanner Kimbler (3.2), Tayte Carver (1.1) and Trevor Carver, Tanner Kimbler (5). W-Gee (K-7, BB-2). L-Kimbler (IP-3.2, K-4, BB-0). Ta. Carver (IP-1.1, K-0, BB-2) Hitting-SW: Alek Blevins 2-3, Shane Zimmerman 2-4 2B, Trevor Coriell 3-4 3B 3-RBI, Jacob Ruth 1-3, Matt Shonkwiler 2-4, Blake Fulk 1-2; Green: Tanner Kimbler 2-3, Tayte Carver 2-4, Trevor Carver 3-4 2B 2-RBI, Bryce Ponn 1-4, Drew Ramey 1-4, Chase Clark 2-2.