The Russellville Indians' baseball season came to an end Monday, dropping a 7-1 decision to New Bloomfield in the first-round of the Class 2, District 8 Tournament. The Indians finished the year with a 6-14 record.
"This group of seniors have played at the varsity level for several years now," Russellville coach Lucas Branson said. "They're good players, they're good kids. Like I've told them, they're moving on to bigger and better things."
In the loss, Seth Kuda kept the Indians in the game from the mound. After allowing a run in the first inning, he pitched three-straight shut out innings. He finished with 5 2/3 innings worked, while giving up six runs - five earned - on nine hits.
"Seth pitched as well as he's thrown all season," said Branson. "Obviously districts is the biggest game of the year, and he stepped up."
The New Bloomfield offense wasn't going to be held down for long, and in the fifth, Tyler Fennewald connected with a 0-1 pitch and sent it well over the left field fence to give the Wildcats the 3-0 lead.
"He gave up the home run, which was a pitch that he tried to get down and in a little bit," said Branson. "I think he may have left it a little over the plate."
Russellville had its chances, but struggled with base running. Three baserunners ran into outs and the Indians hit into two double plays.
"Baseball is a hard sport," said Branson. "When you give a team extra outs, and flip it around to give them extra outs when they're up to bat, it makes it hard to win. That's pretty easy to figure out."
New Bloomfield scored four runs in the sixth to put the game away.
"I know they're a little upset right now," said Branson. "I get that. It's no fun to lose the last game. Unfortunately, only one team gets to go on. Obviously it's tough when you lose the first-round game in districts, and don't come up with the record you'd hoped for. I appreciate everything that they've done."
Branson and the returners to next year's squad now must turn their attention to the off-season and fall ball.
"It's going to take a little time to process, and try and figure out when we need to do differently," said Branson. "As a coach, that's something you're always thinking. Obviously, we have to improve our defense. That's problem area number one. It was an issue pretty much all year, and it showed it today as well."
But there's one thing Branson hopes his team took away from his coaching, and that's to be a better person. Also, he believes playing this sport has helped his seniors with their future and the next step in their life.
"The things we go through on a day-to-day basis is how can we improve ourselves," Branson said. "Some times that's not just about being a baseball player, but also what you can do to prepare yourself for college or the workforce.
"Baseball puts kids in situations where they have to face adversity. Baseball can hopefully help kids relate to challenges they're going to have as they grow up. We talk about that all the time. I hope that's something they've learned from."