The Hargrave varsity baseball team fought off some adversity and kept their minds locked in to the task at hand to take a BIG win over conference opponent Eastern Mennonite (EMS) Thursday 5-4. With the win it helps the team secure a home field advantage in the first round of the VIC playoffs beginning next Tuesday.The Tigers got things rolling quick Thursday jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning off a leadoff double to start the game by Cadet Keegan Ferer and an RBI single by Cadet Spence Walker. EMS scratched a run across off starter Cadet Braden Barnett in the second inning to knot the score at 1-1.
In the fourth inning things began to get interesting with Hargrave getting a run on a double by Barnett and an RBI single by Cadet Joe Long. A sacrifice bunt by Cadet Dennis Britton left a runner on third base where he was stranded with a ground ball out to the third baseman. EMS came in and tied the game again in their half of the inning playing a little small by and a base hit by the sixth batter. Hargrave pushed another run across in the fifth inning before EMS came in to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead going into the sixth inning.
The Tigers showed maturity and heart in the top of the sixth down one run knowing the game was going to be shortened by darkness. Britton lead off the inning with a sharp single through the middle but got called out trying to take a base on a missed bunt attempt by Cadet Harry Crosby for the first out of the inning. Crosby grounded out to the shortstop for the second out, and then the excitement began. Cadet Sadat Slade got a single over the third baseman’s head to begin the rally, then Ferer followed by getting hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second senior leader Cadet Ryan Castellano got a sharp single through the right side plating Slade from second base to tie the game at 4-4.
Walker then hit a ball hard to the third baseman that got by him to plate the go ahead run to give your tigers a 5-4 lead. Starting pitcher Barnett came out in the bottom of the sixth and threw possibly his best inning of the game not giving EMS a chance to score striking out the side to finish off a back and forth ball game. It was battle and your Tigers prevailed, which is a good sign going into a big game against Covenant and the VIC tournament starting next week.
Overall, Ferer was 2-3 with 2 runs scored, Walker went 2-4 with 2 RBI’s. Britton finished 2-2 and Sadat Slade was 2-3 with 2 runs scored. Castellano added a single and a RBI, Barnett, and Zach Ruffin each added singles.
On the mound for the Tigers, Barnett recorded every out himself but two, giving up 5 hits, 4 runs, 1 earned run and striking out a season high 16 EMS batters. Barnett for his day received player of the game honors.
