Eagles drop 6-1 decision to Bernie

For the first time this season the Oran High School baseball team ended up on the short end of the score by losing to the Bernie Mules 6-1 yesterday.

Coach Joe Bickings said, "We knew Bernie was going to be a tough opponent.  When you get base runners in scoring position against a good pitcher, you better capitalize and get momentum on your side instead of giving it right back to them."

But Oran was not able to capitalize.

The Eagles threatened to draw first blood in the 2nd inning.  Denver Elfrink drew a one out walk, he was was forced at second by Todd Priggel but Austin Eftink and Drew Mitchem both singled to load the bases.  All three were stranded.

Layne Johnson got the start on the mound and retired the first 7 he faced, striking out 4 of those.  But, an error was followed by double and a home run giving the Mules a 3-0 lead in the third.  The inning wasn't over however, as a single, a walk and another single drove in the fourth run of the frame.

Oran had a chance in the fourth.  Elfrink singled with one out and went to third an out later on Eftink's second hit of the day.  But once again they could not get that two out RBI.

Johnson kept Bernie hit less after that third inning until there were two outs in the fifth, when the Mules hit their second home run of the day. This one was a solo shot that made the score 5-0.

Clay Sauceda relieved in the sixth and the first batter he faced reached first after being hit by a pitch.  The next batter doubled him in.  Jacob Shoemaker, who had taken over behind the plate when Sauceda went to the mound, erased that base runner, when he threw him out attempting to steal third.  Sauceda struck out the next two.

The Eagles would finally dent the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth.

Cole Priggel led off with a single to shallow left.  Sauceda reached safely on an error by the second baseman, who had missed a tag attempt on Priggel and then threw wildly to second.  Elfrink picked up his second hit, a single on a little flare to right.  Todd Priggel drove in a run on a 4-6 fielders choice.  Eftink would walk to load the bases, but once again Oran would strand three.

Sauceda set Bernie down 1,2,3 in the seventh but the Eagles hit three fly ball outs to end the game.

Both Elfrink and Eftink were 2-2 and each had a walk to reach in all 3 plate appearances.

Bickings on Johnson, "He had one bad inning, but you are going to have that during the course of the year.  He will grow and learn from this and move on to when he gets called on to toe the rubber next week."

Johnson now, 2-1, went 5, gave up 5 runs, 4 earned.  He allowed 5 hits, 2 left the yard.  He walked only 1 while striking out 8.  Sauceda went the final two innings.  He allowed 1 run, it was earned on 1 hit.  He hit one batter and walked none and struck out 2.

The Eagles are now 5-1 on the year and will be back in action today when they host another tough opponent, the Bell City Cubs, at 4:30.