The two teams had met the previous week with the Cubs picking up a 5-4 win at home.
This time, neither team scored during the first two innings.
Oran scored first, Connor Kern walked to lead off the bottom of the third. He scored on Todd Priggel's double.
The Eagles made it 2-0 in the fourth as Kaden Hargrove led off with a single, went to third on Luke Patterson's base hit and scored when Connor Kern reached on an infield error.
The score remained the same until the top of the seventh when the Cubs used a leadoff walk issued by starter Ty Johnson. A ground out and an error allowed one run to score. Following a strikeout, Oran was one out away from the win. A bang-bang play at first did not go the Eagles' way and Johnson had reached his pitching limit. Freshman Connor Kern came in in relief; a second error allowed the second run to score and tie the game. The next batter hit into a force out to end the rally.
Kern (1-1-1) picked up the win going one-third of an inning. Johnson went six and two-thirds. He allowed two runs, none earned, on three hits. He walked three and struck out 12.
Priggel went 2-3 and had an RBI.
Coach Joe Bickings said, "Although we didn’t have very many hits yesterday it was nice to see Todd Priggel step up and be the leader we needed him to be. Todd went 6-7 with 5 RBI and 4 runs scored. Even the at-bat he got out on he hit the ball hard and it was right at the first baseman who couldn’t catch it cleanly because it was hit hard. He’s one of our leaders on this team and he stepped up for us when we needed him to."
In the bottom of the seventh, with one out, "K"ole Simms walked on four pitches, went to second on a wild pitch and third on a balk. Then with two outs and a 3-2 count on Dawson Menz, Menz singled to right to set off a dog-pile down the right field and propel the Eagles (10-9) into the sectional round of the state tournament that will be on Monday at 4:30 in Cooter.
Coach Joe Bickings added, "What a rollercoaster ride that game was. There were a lot of ups and downs for both teams and fortunately for us we were able to come out on top. We had the 2-0 lead heading into the 7th inning and Ty’s pitch count was creeping up there and he didn’t do any favors for himself by walking the leadoff hitter. He then reached his pitch count and we had to take him out after a very well pitched game (probably his best game pitching of the year). We also had some errors in that inning that led to Bell City making the game tied at 2-2. Bell City took advantage of our mistakes. The thing I liked was that after Bell City tied it up and had runners on base we were able to get out of it. Then we battled back for the win on a walk-off hit by Dawson Menz who didn’t have a hit all day up until that point. It helps reiterate what I tell the kids that it’s not about what you have done, but what you will do. The past is the past and you have to let it go and be ready for the moment at hand."
No comments:
Post a Comment