Litchfield Edges Vandalia 2-1 in Tight Conference Pitcher’s Duel

A single run in the top of the sixth inning made all the difference on Friday afternoon as the Litchfield varsity baseball team outlasted host Vandalia 2-1 in a tightly contested conference battle.

The matchup featured excellent pitching and tight defensive play from both sides, but Litchfield managed to string together just enough timely hits to secure the road victory. The visitors jumped out to a quick advantage, pushing a run across in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Vandalia (25-26) responded in the bottom of the third to knot the score. Kohnor Depew sparked the offense for the hosts, doubling to get into scoring position. He later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jack Lewis, tying the game at 1-1. Depew was a constant threat on the basepaths all afternoon, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases, and his team’s lone run.

The score remained deadlocked until the top of the sixth, when Litchfield finally manufactured the go-ahead run. Despite giving up 10 hits on the day, Vandalia’s defense kept the visitors in check for most of the contest, executing well behind their pitcher. However, Litchfield’s sixth-inning run proved to be the game-winner, as their pitching staff closed the door with scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh.

Jack Lewis took a tough-luck loss on the mound for Vandalia despite a stellar complete-game performance. Lewis pounded the strike zone over seven innings, allowing just two runs—only one of which was earned—on 10 hits while striking out five and walking none.

Alongside Depew’s three-hit day, Andrew Casey, Drew Jones, Chase Cearlock, and Ayden Carroll each collected hits for the hosts. Casey and Carroll also drew walks, while Casey added a stolen base to the offensive effort. Litchfield’s individual statistics were not available, but the team’s ability to consistently put the ball in play—racking up 10 hits against Lewis’s stingy pitching—proved to be the deciding factor in the narrow 2-1 victory.

Game Summary

Score by Quarters

Scoring Drives

• 1st Inning: Litchfield strikes early, pushing a run across the plate to take a 1-0 lead.

• 3rd Inning: Vandalia answers back as Jack Lewis hits a sacrifice fly to bring home Kohnor Depew, tying the game at 1-1.

• 6th Inning: Litchfield plates the decisive run to take a 2-1 advantage, which holds up through the final frame.

Individual Statistics

BATTING:

• Litchfield: Team Totals – 10 Hits. (Note: Complete individual batting statistics were not provided).

• Vandalia: Kohnor Depew 3-4 (1 R, 1 2B, 2 SB), Jack Lewis 0-3 (1 RBI), Andrew Casey 1-3 (1 SB), Chase Cearlock 1-4, Ayden Carroll 1-2, Drew Jones 1-3.

PITCHING:

• Litchfield: Team Totals (W) – 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.

• Vandalia: Jack Lewis (L) – 7.0 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.