April 14, 2026 vs. Archie
The Rich Hill Varsity Tigers delivered an exciting, high-energy performance Tuesday, battling until the final inning in a narrow 15-14 loss to Archie in a game filled with momentum swings.
Despite the tough ending on a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers showcased resilience and offensive firepower throughout the contest, racking up 11 hits and keeping constant pressure on Archie’s defense.
Rich Hill got on the board early in the first inning when Potter drove in a run, setting the tone for an aggressive approach at the plate. After falling behind 6-1 in the second, the Tigers refused to back down. They surged back in the fourth inning with a five-run rally, highlighted by Ephland’s clutch two-run double, to take a 9-6 lead and shift the momentum.
The back-and-forth battle continued as the Tigers answered again in the fifth inning. Key contributions from Potter, Wheatley, Steuck, and Gilkey helped push Rich Hill back into the lead, demonstrating the lineup's depth and determination.
Potter and Ephland led the offensive charge with three hits each, while Potter drove in four runs in an impressive 3-for-5 performance. Keith added two impressive hits, and Wheatley showed excellent plate discipline with three walks as the Tigers totaled nine walks as a team.
On the base paths, Rich Hill was relentless, compiling an impressive 18 stolen bases. Multiple players, including Potter, Hendrix, Swift, Gilkey, Ephland, Gillis, and Gibson, contributed to the aggressive running game that kept Archie under constant pressure.
Defensively, the Tigers remained composed and fundamentally sound, limiting mistakes and playing clean softball behind their pitching staff. Burris got the start, with Steuck providing valuable innings in relief.
While the game ended in a narrow defeat, the Tigers’ effort and determination stood out. Coaches expressed pride in the team’s fight, focus, and teamwork.
Next up for the Rich Hill Tigers is a home game against Hume on Monday, April 20th, starting at 5:30 pm.