The Eagles were down big, early.
Saxony used 4 hits, a walk, a hit batter and an error to score 6 times in the first frame. Only one of those runs were earned against the starter, Preston Hahn.
Oran cut the lead in half in the second when they picked up three unearned runs of their own.
Layne Johnson legged out an infield single with one out to get things started. Tanner McVay then reached on an infield error moving Johnson to second. Then, with two outs, Jacob Shoemaker loaded the bases by drawing a walk. Drew Reischman drove in the two lead runners with a single and advanced to second when the ball was bobbled in the outfield and Shoemaker ended up at third. Cole Priggel scored Shoemaker with a single back up the middle.
In the bottom half, the Crusaders had runners at first and third and only one out when a fly ball was lifted into left field. The runner tagged at third but did not attempt to score and then next batter hit into a force out to end the threat.
In the top of the third, Oran threatened as a Johnson one out single was followed by an error, an out and another error. But the Eagles could not get the two out hit and the score remained 6-3 Saxony after 2 1/2.
A leadoff single greeted Hahn in the third, and Head Coach Joe Bicking brought Johnson to the mound. The first batter Johnson saw, singled on the first pitch, but after that, an infield fly pop out to Hahn at second was followed by back to back strike outs to quell the rally.
Oran chipped away at the lead in the fourth, when they plated 2 more.
Drew Reischman reached on an infield single and moved on to second on Priggel's ground out. He would score on Hahn's RBI single to center. A walk to Clay Sauceda put runners at first and second and still only one out. Then, with two outs, Johnson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. McVay took a four pitch walk to make the score 6-5.
In the bottom of the fourth, Johnson hit the lead off man and gave up a one out single but escaped. He struck out two more in the inning.
The Eagles would finally get even in the fifth.
Reischman, with one out, would beat out another infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. He would move on to third on Priggel's single to left and Oran had runners at the corners and no outs. Hahn then hit into an RBI force out at second tying the game at 6. Sauceda would single before a Crusader pitching change ended the inning.
Johnson set Saxony down in order in the 5th, the only three up-three down inning of the game, striking out 2 more.
The Eagles were given a one out walk in the sixth but didn't get past first base.
The Crusaders had another golden opportunity in the sixth.
The lead off man reached on an infield single and went to second on a throwing error. The next batter was hit by a pitch and Saxony had 2 on and none out. A ground ball to Reischman was tossed to Hahn for a force out and now the Crusaders had runners on the corners and only one down. But, Johnson took control, getting called third strikes on the next two batters to once again pull a rabbit out of his hat.
It didn't look like the seventh would be fruitful for Oran after the first two were retired on infield ground balls. Then with a two strike count on Hahn, an inside pitch clipped him giving the Eagles a base runner. Sauceda, with a full count, hit a wicked shot off the 2nd baseman and into right field, scoring Hahn who had stolen second earlier in the count, to give the Eagles a 7-6 lead. Sauceda picked up his first career stolen base before Blake Overfield walked on a full count. Johnson would drive in Sauceda's courtesy runner Ben Fox, with a single to left, for an insurance run that would be needed,
It was a roller coaster in the bottom of the 7th.
A lead off single was erased in a force out at second. But then an errant pick off attempt allowed the runner to reach third with no one out. Johnson got the next man looking on a full count pitch. A single drove in the run to make it 8-7, but when the ball got through to the fence batter ended up at third only 90 feet away from tying the game. Johnson ended the game on a three pitch strike out.
Johnson picked up the win in relief to improve to 3-3 on the season. He threw 5 allowing only 1 unearned run. He walked no one, but did hit 2, while striking out 10. Hahn went 2 allowing 6 runs, only 1 earned on 8 hits, 1 walk and 1 hit batter.
At the plate, Reischman had 3 hits and 2 RBI. Priggel and Johnson each had 2 hits and a run driven in.
Oran, now 8-6 and riding a 5 game win streak, will compete in the Notre Dame Showcase at Notre Dame Regional High School on Saturday. The Eagles will take on the Triad Knights of Troy, Il at 2 pm. Following that, at 6 pm Oran will take on the hosts. It will be two very difficult opponents. Admission will be charged.
What the professionals had to say: semoball
What the professionals had to say: semoball
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