It was hard to push runs across the plate on Thursday night at South Greene, but in the seventh inning North Greene came up with right combination of plays at the plate to break a tie and earn a 4-2 win over the Rebels.
“We knew coming in that this was going to be a tough game, and after dropping two to West Greene last week we needed to get back on track,” North Greene coach Jamey Palmer said. “These guys competed. Brady (Malone) threw a good game on the mound and the defense played well behind him. It feels good to get back on the winning side of things.”
Both teams put plenty of runners on base on Thursday, but both defenses held strong and left them stranded for most of the night. In total North Greene left 10 and South Greene left eight runners in scoring position.
“We had a good practice yesterday and went over some coverages. There was a place in the sixth inning where we didn’t execute and we gave up a run. But overall, I feel like we have a defense that can play with anybody, and they got us out of some spots today,” Palmer said.
With the game knotted at 2-2 heading into the final frame North Greene was able to find enough production to take a two-run lead late. Christian Cogdill got the side started by ripping a ground ball down the third-base line. Wyatt Burns walked and Jaiden Bailey was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
South Greene had to push the infield up in hopes of making a play at the plate and Aidan Halley blooped a single to the deep part of the dirt that allowed the go-ahead run to score. Next Jake Duffy sent a ground ball back to the mound, that erased Halley at second, but the Rebels could convert the double play to get out of the inning. Burns scored on the play to push the lead to 4-2.
The inning ended on batter interference when Bailey tried to score on a passed ball.
“I trust anybody in the lineup. Christian got us started with a big hit and then we took advantage of some stuff,” Palmer said. “After dropping some tough games to West Greene last week, it was good to see these guys make the plays late to get a tough win.”
South Greene sent the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but North Greene ended things when they caught Tyler Davis too far off the bag and forced a run down.
After putting runners in scoring position in both the second and third innings North Greene finally broke through in the fourth frame with two runs.
Owen Pierce led off the side by being hit by a pitch, and his pinch runner, Isaac Halley, went to third on a wild pitch and a balk. Cogdill knocked in the first run of the night when he skipped a groundball through the left side.
Tyler Britton, who reached on a walk, scored from third when Duffy sent a slow roller to the shortstop that South Greene could not get to in time to do anything with.
South Greene answered with two runs in the sixth inning to tie the score at 2-2.
Davis led off the side with a line drive over first base. He scored from second when Eli Fillers launched a fly ball into deep left field. Pinch runner Christian Darnell evened the score when Brendan Lisenby sent a shot to third base. The line drive was caught for the second out, but Brady Malone’s throw to first to catch Colten Fillers who did not tag up was of target. That gave Darnell time to get back to third and then reach the plate.
Halley earned the win in relief on Thursday. In two innings he struck out four, walked three and allowed two hits.
Malone threw the first five innings with 10 strikeouts, three walks and four hits allowed.
For South Greene Zack Mason took the loss. In four innings he struck out two, walked four and allowed two hits. Seth Franklin tossed three innings with three strikeouts, five walks and two hits allowed.
Cogdill went 2-for-3 with an RBI for North Greene. Duffy and Halley each had a single.
For South Greene Fillers was 2-for-2 and reached base three times. Davis also reached base three times with a single and two walks.
