July 9 (Scoreboard)
Bluefield 14 – Greeneville 13
Greeneville and Bluefield wrapped up their three-game series Thursday night at Eastman Credit Union Field with a thriller that came down to the final pitch. The Flyboys rallied from a 14-9 deficit, scoring four runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but left the bases loaded as the Ridge Runners escaped with a 14-13 victory.
Both pitching staffs struggled to consistently find the strike zone, but when they did, the offenses capitalized. The two teams combined for 28 walks, while Bluefield pounded out 14 hits and Greeneville finished with nine.
After both teams went down in order in the first inning, Bluefield broke the game open in the second with a grand slam, jumping out to a 7-0 lead. Greeneville answered immediately, scoring five times in the bottom of the inning to trim the deficit to 7-5.
The Ridge Runners added two runs in both the third and fourth innings to stretch their advantage to 11-5, but the Flyboys refused to go away. Greeneville scored once in the fourth and added three more in the fifth to close within 11-9.
Bluefield tacked on a run in the sixth and two more in the eighth to build what appeared to be a comfortable 14-9 lead before turning the game over to the bullpen.
The Ridge Runners recorded two quick strikeouts on six pitches to begin the ninth and seemed poised to close out the victory. Instead, Gabe Gray worked a two-out walk before Matthew Kerrigan lined a single to right field to put runners on the corners. Five consecutive free passes forced home four runs, leaving the bases loaded with the tying run just 90 feet away. Bluefield called on Logan Prater, who induced a swinging strikeout on a full-count pitch to record the final out and earn the save.
Levi Pender paced the Flyboys offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double, two singles, and five RBIs.
Greeneville returns home Friday night to open a home-and-home series with the Kingsport Axmen. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for pregame Corgi races and stay throughout the evening for more entertainment featuring the four-legged competitors.
Elizabethton 14 – Pulaski 4 (8-innings)
Johnson City 10 – Burlington 8
Kingsport 10 – Danville 5
July 10 (Schedule)
Kingsport @ Greeneville 7:00
Burlington @ Bluefield 6:30
Danville @ Pulaski 7:00
Elizabethton @ Johnson City 7:00
