Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHILLICOTHE — Pitching takes over in the tournament and Green’s Tanner Kimbler and Waterford’s Noah Huffman were in command.
In a pitching duel, the Waterford Wildcats got a few extra breaks as they edged the Green Bobcats 3-1 on Tuesday in the Division IV district semifinals at Paint Stadium.
Kimbler was excellent as he struck out five, did not walk a batter and the three runs he allowed were unearned.
Huffman turned in a stellar performance as well. He gave up three hits, struck out four and walked three. The run he allowed was unearned as well.
The game was scoreless until Green took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Tayte Carver — who had two hits — singled moved to third on an error and scored when Mason Barber reached on an error.
Waterford (15-10) rallied in the bottom of the inning to score all three of its runs.
Bryce Hilverding singled and Braden Bellville reached on an error. After a line out, Andrew Harra-Baker singled the runners to second and third.
Harra-Baker was thrown out at first base when he started toward second base and Hilverding was held up at third base.
But Zane Heiss tripled as the ball got past a diving Levi Singleton. A throwing error on the play allowed Heiss to score.
The Bobcats (18-6) threatened in the seventh when they used two walks and a hit batsman to load the bases with two outs.
But Huffman got the next batter to ground out to first base and end the game.
Green finished the season 18-6 and won a second straight Southern Ohio Conference title and a sectional championship.
It was a tough loss for Kimbler who finished the season with 59 strikeouts and a meager three walks. He came into the game with an 0.84 earned run average.
Green 000 100 0 = 1 3 2
Waterford 000 300 x = 3 4 2
Tanner Kimbler and Mason Barber. Noah Huffman and Austin Pyatt. W-Huffman (K-4, BB-3, ER-0). L-Kimbler (K-5, BB-0, ER-0).