On a perfect day for baseball, the Fliers took on two formidable opponents and lost each game in extra innings.
Bellevue came back from a 6-3 deficit to snatch a 7-6 win over the blue and gold in the first game. In the second game Lexington hit the Redmen with a seven run fourth to defeat the red and gray, 8-3. The Minutemen then narrowly edged the Fliers, 4-3, in the final game of a very long day of hardball.
Against Bellevue, the Fliers spotted the Redmen two runs in the first before bouncing back with a run of their own. Frank Sewell singled with one out and advanced around the bases courtesy of a passed ball and double steals with Ryan Kelley.
In the top of the second, Bellevue pushed their lead to 3-1 thanks to an RBI triple by Bryce Ray. The Fliers retaliated with four in the bottom of the frame.
After an out, Matt Baker pounded a double into right. After a walk to John Jackson, a single to Rob Webb, and yet another walk, the Fliers were up, 5-3, after just two innings.
The Fliers added a run in the third. Matt Baker walked with two outs. He then advanced to third when Tanner Davenport shoved a single to right. While leading off from third he scored via a Redmen wild pitch. After three the Fliers were up, 6-3.
Then the Redmen were given treats in the form of four walks in the top of the fourth. Mix in two singles and two stolen bases, and when the Fliers jogged back to their dugout, they found themselves knotted up with their rivals, 6-6.
The teams went to seek relief help in the later innings. Left-hander John Jackson frustrated the Redmen for three innings. Bellevue in turn did their best to hold the Fliers down.
The game went extra innings, and unfortunately, the lead off hitter for Bellevue was the talented Bryce Ray. All day, he had been an all-star. He doubled to lead off the game, tripled in a run in the second, then walked during his next two at bats.
He then led off the extra innings with a double, finishing the day going 3-for-3 with two walks. Ray scored on Jared Auten’s single to give the Big Red the lead and winning run. The Fliers went quietly down in the bottom of the eighth against closer, Joe Wetton.
After a long wait for the Redmen-Minutemen game, the Fliers again pounded their mitts and took the field hoping to salvage a win for their Saturday of hardball.
After starter Matt Baker set the Minutemen down in order in their half of the first, the Fliers picked up a run without a base hit in the bottom of the first. Three walks, a hit batsman, and error all came after a double play to get the first two outs. Despite the pitcher’s control issues, only Andy Noftz’s bases loaded walk produced a run.
Then in the Lexington third, the boys from Richland County scored four times on four hits, all after the first two were retired by junior hurler, Matt Baker. But the Fliers answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a lead off double by Frank Sewell, a double steal after Ryan Kelley was hit by a pitch, and then a fielder’s choice RBI.
Matt Baker continued to pitch for the Race Street boys. Things remained square, at 3-3, until the Minutemen sixth. After two were out, the next batter reached on an error. He then successfully stole second, and scored the winning run on a single to left.
It was rough week for the Fliers who lost four of five games over four days. As of Sunday, the boys’ team is 4-4 on the season.
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