The Riverheads Gladiators miraculously worked their way out of bases-loaded jams in both the bottom of the 7th and the bottom of the 9th to sneak by Wilson 5-4 Friday night and pick up a crucial road win. The Big Red is now 9-1 on the season and all these wins over 2-A teams will certainly help their 1-A playoff standings when the post-season rolls around.
Ryan Fitzgerald started on the mound for the Big Red and for much of the game it looked as if he might go the distance. He was doing a good job staying ahead of the hitters and heading into the 6th had only given up two hits. Meanwhile the Gladiators had scored two runs in the top of the 1st and two more in the 4th and led 4-1 with the home team only having two more at bats to even things up.
Andrew Golladay came on in relief in the 6th and the Big Red recorded two outs before the Hornets got their big break of the game. They had managed to load the bases and Golladay had two strikes on the last batter. But instead of whiffing him to end the threat, with just one swing of the bat, the Hornet hitter (sorry I don't know the name) cleared the bases with a solid double to left-center field. RHS fortunately stranded him at second and the action headed into the 7th tied at 4-4.
RHS failed to deliver and the Hornets stepped up for their final regulation at-bat with Big Mo' resting clearly on their shoulders. Again they loaded the bases with two outs, but this time instead of getting the clutch hit and pulling out the win, the visitors turned a classic double play. The hitter hit the ball straight up the middle to Golladay. He fielded it and fired to Taz Miller at the plate for the force and he in turn rifled it down to first in time for the final out.
Nobody seriously threatened in the 8th but emotions took over in a tense final two innings, and let's just say some unpleasant words were thrown around. As always the boys in blue can't please ANYONE, much less everyone, and on this chilly evening, Riverheads was not happy with some of the calls they were getting at the plate, but on the base paths, they seemed to be getting more than a fair shake as just about every close call at first went in favor of the red team. So even though it balanced out, things got testy and there will probably be some discussions held in both dugouts this week about keeping one's cool under pressure.
In the top of the 9th, things reached a fever pitch as RHS' Colt Miller was nearly ejected for arguing a called third strike. But after he was retired, his teammates rallied around him and Tyler Smith delivered the game-winning RBI.
Wilson still did not go quietly as they again loaded the bases, this time with only one out. At that point, just about any betting man on the premises would have wagered that the Hornets were going to somehow pull it out, but Golladay caught the next guy swinging, and a hard-hit grounder to shortstop made it over to first just in time for yet another of those close calls as the Gladiator faithful heaved a big sigh of relief.
According to the announced box score, Riverheads outhit the home team 11-5. So other than the Hornets' big double in the sixth, the Gladiators were the more consistent team tonight and never trailed.
RHS has a busy three-game stretch next week as the season passes the halfway point. A home date on Tuesday against Stonewall starts the action.
Ryan Fitzgerald started on the mound for the Big Red and for much of the game it looked as if he might go the distance. He was doing a good job staying ahead of the hitters and heading into the 6th had only given up two hits. Meanwhile the Gladiators had scored two runs in the top of the 1st and two more in the 4th and led 4-1 with the home team only having two more at bats to even things up.
Andrew Golladay came on in relief in the 6th and the Big Red recorded two outs before the Hornets got their big break of the game. They had managed to load the bases and Golladay had two strikes on the last batter. But instead of whiffing him to end the threat, with just one swing of the bat, the Hornet hitter (sorry I don't know the name) cleared the bases with a solid double to left-center field. RHS fortunately stranded him at second and the action headed into the 7th tied at 4-4.
RHS failed to deliver and the Hornets stepped up for their final regulation at-bat with Big Mo' resting clearly on their shoulders. Again they loaded the bases with two outs, but this time instead of getting the clutch hit and pulling out the win, the visitors turned a classic double play. The hitter hit the ball straight up the middle to Golladay. He fielded it and fired to Taz Miller at the plate for the force and he in turn rifled it down to first in time for the final out.
Nobody seriously threatened in the 8th but emotions took over in a tense final two innings, and let's just say some unpleasant words were thrown around. As always the boys in blue can't please ANYONE, much less everyone, and on this chilly evening, Riverheads was not happy with some of the calls they were getting at the plate, but on the base paths, they seemed to be getting more than a fair shake as just about every close call at first went in favor of the red team. So even though it balanced out, things got testy and there will probably be some discussions held in both dugouts this week about keeping one's cool under pressure.
In the top of the 9th, things reached a fever pitch as RHS' Colt Miller was nearly ejected for arguing a called third strike. But after he was retired, his teammates rallied around him and Tyler Smith delivered the game-winning RBI.
Wilson still did not go quietly as they again loaded the bases, this time with only one out. At that point, just about any betting man on the premises would have wagered that the Hornets were going to somehow pull it out, but Golladay caught the next guy swinging, and a hard-hit grounder to shortstop made it over to first just in time for yet another of those close calls as the Gladiator faithful heaved a big sigh of relief.
According to the announced box score, Riverheads outhit the home team 11-5. So other than the Hornets' big double in the sixth, the Gladiators were the more consistent team tonight and never trailed.
RHS has a busy three-game stretch next week as the season passes the halfway point. A home date on Tuesday against Stonewall starts the action.
