Published: May 09, 2008 11:15 pm         

FH falls to Smithsburg, 5-1

Errors caught up with fifth-seeded Fort Hill Friday as the Sentinels allowed three unearned runs in a 5-1 loss to Smithsburg in the first round of the Maryland 1A West Region playoffs.

Josh Conley and Jay Shaffer combined to allow six hits and one run, although they only struck out four. The 12th-seeded Leopards allowed a run in the first before shutting out the Sentienls for the final six innings.

Taylor Metzer helped to put the finishing touches on the score by hitting a pinch-hit home run in the sixth. Catcher Bobby Smith had two of Smithsburg’s seven hits with a double and a single, and Tim Peake hit an RBI single in the fifth that was the go-ahead run.

For the Sentinels, Zack Bible collected a pair of singles. In the first inning, Bible got one with a base-hit, and Scott Rice followed with a single of his own. After Jesse Robinson drew a walk to load the bases, Jerritt Bean was hit by a pitch for Fort Hill’s only RBI.

Rice earned the loss despite allowing only four hits, and one earned run. The senior recorded eight strikeouts in his final game at Fort Hill.

Fort Hill finishes the season with a 5-10 record. Smithsburg will advance to play Catoctin on Monday.