Patterson leads GHS past Brown County

SPENCER -- When Greencastle's Zac Remsburg homered on the second pitch of the ball game Monday afternoon, it looked like Greencastle's opening round sectional game with Brown County might be a shootout.

However, only three more runs were scored in the remainder of the seven innings. Two of those belonged to the Tiger Cubs, and they advanced to Thursday's sectional semifinal with a 3-1 victory over the Eagles.

The day belonged to GHS starter Derrik Patterson. The senior threw seven innings of three-hit ball, walking none and allowing zero earned runs. He struck out five Eagles.

"I have to start with Derrik," Tiger Cub coach Troy Greenlee began his postgame comments. "What a performance on the mound. It's a good feeling to go into a game and know your pitcher is going to give you a chance to win. He gives us that."

Patterson dealt well with a very hot afternoon as well as some early issues with control. Although he had no walks on the day, he did go deep into counts with some hitters in the early innings. While that will wear some pitchers down, Patterson actually seemed to get stronger, allowing only two base runners for the remainder of the game after the Eagles scored their lone run in the third inning.

The one bump in the road came when Patterson's own throwing error allowed Brown County's Josh Owens to reach. Another error two batters later allowed Owens to score from second.

Brown County starter David Tathum threw well, but made just enough mistakes for the Tiger Cubs to make him pay. He allowed two runs on five hits and one walk over four innings of work. The two runs came on homers, with Remsburg's leadoff in the first and Eric Burgeson's solo shot to begin the fourth. Those two mistakes were all it took for Tathum to pick up the loss.

"We got enough runs and enough hits to put us over the top. I thought it was a great performance by our whole team," Greenlee said.

The game's final run came in the seventh, when Remsburg drove in pinch runner Logan Grzesick with a double to right field off of Eagle reliever Tanner Freshour.

Remsburg led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, two runs batted in and one run scored. Patterson was the other Tiger Cub with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.

For the Tiger Cubs, it is on to Thursday's semifinal with Edgewood. The Mustangs defeated West Vigo, 4-1, in Monday's second game. Greenlee knows it only gets tougher from here. He believes his team is up to it.

"It's going to be a heck of a challenge Thursday night. I don't think our guys are satisfied, so we're anxious to get to Thursday," he said.

First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. on Owen Valley's Patriot Field.

At Owen Valley

Sectional 25 First Round

Greencastle 100 100 1 -- 3 7 3

Brown County 001 000 0 -- 1 3 0

Patterson and Faust (GHS). Tathum, Freshour (6) and Miller (BC).

W -- Patterson

L -- Tathum

2B -- Remsburg (GHS)

HR -- Remsburg, Burgeson (GHS)

Next game -- The Tiger Cubs will face Edgewood in the second round of the Owen Vally Sectional on Thursday at 5 p.m.