(From Madisonville)  Tyler Simmons was simply too much for the Tradewater Pirates last night at Elmer Kelley Stadium, and the Marion Bobcats downed Madisonville 4-1. The Bobcat starter threw 138 pitches and allowed one run on four hits, five walks and ten strikeouts. That performance earned Simmons a complete game victory and propelled his team into Round Two of the 2013 OVL playoffs.

     Marion, who finished the regular season with a record of 6-36, entered the game as the #6 seed in the playoff bracket. Madisonville earned the #3 playoff seed with a regular season record of 25-19.

     The Bobcats jumped on the Pirates right from the start, scoring one run in the top of the first when Clint Ambrosch drove in Cody Brown with a ground ball to short. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh, when Marion extended the lead to 2-0 on a run by Joe Tourville.

     Madisonville got their sole run of the game in the bottom of the eighth, with Dathan Prewett leading off the inning by drawing a base on balls from Simmons. Garrett Emling followed with a double, knocking Prewett to third base. After a Robert Veltre strikeout, Gooch Greer drove in Prewett with a sacrifice fly. The inning ended with Emling stranded at third base when Simmons struck out Joe Tipton.

     Marion added two insurance runs in the ninth to extend the lead to 4-1. Cody Brown reached on a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ballesterri, and scored on single by Ambrosch. Tyler Bonaventure then reached on an error, which also allowed Ambrosch to score. After a single by Scooter Hightower, Blake Thomas struck out to end the inning.

     Simmons promptly retired the Pirates in order in the bottom of the ninth to close out the game.

     Madisonville starter Mason Roof pitched seven complete innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, one walk and three strikeouts. CJ Schildt II came on in relief and pitched the final two innings. Schildt gave up two runs on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Roof got the loss for the Pirates.

     The loss eliminated the Pirates from the OVL playoffs. Marion now advances to face the Fulton Railroaders in Round 2. The Bobcats and Railroaders will play a best-of-three series, with the Bobcats hosting the opener Thursday in Marion.