Although there were showers and thunderstorms all over the Valley today, nary a drop fell in Greenville, allowing RHS and the Eagles to get in their make-up game. Each team threw their ace (Noah Brown for ER and Colt Miller for RHS), meaning that runs were hard to come by, before the visitors pushed across the game-winner in the top of the sixth on a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt.
Things started off just fine for the home team as they plated what would turn out to be their only two runs in the bottom of the first frame. With two outs, they strung together three hits, including a monster double by John Dudley, to grab the early lead.
Miller held the Eagles in check for their first two at-bats but they touched him for four hits and two runs in the top of the third to knot the score.
From that point on, the game was all about missed opportunities for both teams, but especially for the Gladiators. The Red Pride mounted scoring threats in the final four innings but just could not get the big hit they needed to pull out the win.
Miller tried his best to help his own cause and avoid his first loss of the season as he stroked a double over the center fielder's head to open the fourth, but his courtesy runner was left stranded without advancing a base. Then in the sixth, after ER moved ahead, he flirted with a solo homer that would have tied things back up, but the Eagles' right fielder hauled it in right at the fence. The Big Red mounted lesser threats in the 5th and 7th, including getting their lead-off man on base and advancing him to second in the final inning before a fly out to left field ended the game.
The Gladiators have a final regular-season game tomorrow night at Luray, and I presume the Eagles have one remaining as well. Both teams then get a week's rest as they will finish 1-2 in the Conference 36 standings and earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Wilson, Buffalo Gap, Lee, and Nelson will battle in Friday's quarter-finals, with the Eagles and Gladiators then hosting the winners of those quarters next Tuesday. After today's game, East Rock is now 17-2 and RHS 13-5.
Things started off just fine for the home team as they plated what would turn out to be their only two runs in the bottom of the first frame. With two outs, they strung together three hits, including a monster double by John Dudley, to grab the early lead.
Miller held the Eagles in check for their first two at-bats but they touched him for four hits and two runs in the top of the third to knot the score.
From that point on, the game was all about missed opportunities for both teams, but especially for the Gladiators. The Red Pride mounted scoring threats in the final four innings but just could not get the big hit they needed to pull out the win.
Miller tried his best to help his own cause and avoid his first loss of the season as he stroked a double over the center fielder's head to open the fourth, but his courtesy runner was left stranded without advancing a base. Then in the sixth, after ER moved ahead, he flirted with a solo homer that would have tied things back up, but the Eagles' right fielder hauled it in right at the fence. The Big Red mounted lesser threats in the 5th and 7th, including getting their lead-off man on base and advancing him to second in the final inning before a fly out to left field ended the game.
The Gladiators have a final regular-season game tomorrow night at Luray, and I presume the Eagles have one remaining as well. Both teams then get a week's rest as they will finish 1-2 in the Conference 36 standings and earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Wilson, Buffalo Gap, Lee, and Nelson will battle in Friday's quarter-finals, with the Eagles and Gladiators then hosting the winners of those quarters next Tuesday. After today's game, East Rock is now 17-2 and RHS 13-5.
