7th-inning rally sends Lynchburg-Clay past Fairfield
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG – When the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs needed big bats and big plays the most, that is when they came through in their Southern Hills Athletic Conference game against the Fairfield Lions on Thursday.
The Mustangs (2-0, 4-0) trailed by two runs entering the top of the seventh and final inning, but by the time they were finished at the plate and on the bases, it was the visiting Mustangs who gained two runs to take what became the game-winning score of 4-3 over the host Lions.
This was the season opener for the Lions, as they are now 0-1 overall.
Lynchburg-Clay began the top of the seventh with a base hit on a two-strike single hit to left field. Next came a steal of second base by Pitzer, and then he went to third on a passed ball. A single off a hard hit ball to left field by Josh Wolfe (2-for-2, two runs, one RBI, two walks) tied the score as Pitzer scored a run, making it a 3-3 game with no outs.
Wolfe moved to second base off a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher by Ethan McConnaughey. Wolfe went to third base off a groundout to second base hit by Caden Hess, putting the go-ahead run at third with two outs.
Austin Proctor reached first on an infield error at shortstop, with Wolfe taking advantage and scoring a run for the final 4-3 advantage.
“I told the boys in the third inning that we are hitting right at them and keep plugging away, and good teams win games like this. Nothing feels better than coming back being down 3-0 and beating a quality team like Fairfield, and they did just that,” Lynchburg-Clay head coach Vince Pitzer said. “This was a team effort. We had some timely walks and hard-hit balls late in the game, and I’m happy so far this season.
“That is what we harped on in the offseason that we want to go the extra inch, and we are starting to click with them. Hopefully they carry it with them throughout the rest of the season.”
At one point in the game, it was the Fairfield Lions who led by a 3-0 score following a home run by Sam Buddelmeyer in the bottom of the third inning.
The inning began with Orrie Friend (1-for-2) hitting a one-out line drive to right field, and then he moved to second off a single to centerfield off the bat of Austin Setty, as he finished 1-for-3 with one run and one walk.
Next was the three-run home run by Buddelmeyer with a 3-2 count against him.
“I’m not disappointed in the guys’ effort. It stinks for us because we ran into Lynchburg-Clay in a big conference game, and it was the first game for us and we have guys in new positions, but we let one slip away at the end,” FHS head coach Jeremy McGraw said. “I can’t fault our effort.”
The Mustangs made it a 3-2 score in the top of the fifth, with Pitzer (1-for-2, one run, two walks) getting things started with a one-out walk on a six-pitch at-bat. Next, Wolfe singled with a line drive to centerfield, moving Pitzer to second base.
McConnaughey reached first on a fielder’s choice with Pitzer out at third and Wolfe moving to second base. Hess (2-for-4, one RBI) knocked in Wolfe off a hit to left field, with the Mustangs gaining their first run of the game. Proctor reached the bases on an error at second base, scoring McConnaughey for the aforementioned 3-2 score.
In all, the Mustangs totaled eight hits and two errors, while the Lions had six hits and three errors.
Alex Barber also had two hits for the Mustangs, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Barber was also strong on the mound as he went 94 pitches in a complete seven-inning game. Barber allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits and one walks. Barber totaled 10 strikeouts in the win as 73 of his pitches went for strikes, including 22 first-pitch strikes.
“I had Barber pulled in the last inning, but he came to me and said he wanted the ball and I told him he was going back out,” Pitzer said. “He went almost 100 pitches, and I usually don’t like throwing a kid that much this early in the season, but I can’t not when a kid comes to me and says he wants the ball, and I have about four or five like that.”
Setty was charged with the loss in 2.1 innings of relief. Setty threw 38 pitches, where he allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and no walks. The senior finished with two strikeouts.
Buddelmeyer had the no-decision where he went 4.2 innings in the start, throwing 88 pitches. Buddelmeyer allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks, ending his outing with six strikeouts. At the plate, Buddelmeyer was 1-for-3.
“Sam did a nice job on the mound, but he just got a little deep in counts when he was ahead 0-2, but it was his first outing, and with basketball going long, he hasn’t got a lot of work in,” McGraw said. “We also only had two scrimmages, so we as a team were a little rusty at times.
“I’m not making any excuses, and you have to give credit to Lynchburg-Clay because they have a nice ball club, and give credit to (Proctor). He kept us off-balanced all night.”
Also having a hit for the Lions was Hunter Burns at 1-for-2 in the game.
Next for the Mustangs is a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 30 against Bethel-Tate, starting at 11 a.m. at LCHS.
The Lions will also next play again on Saturday, March 30 in a non-conference game against Paint Valley at 11 a.m.
The Mustangs (2-0, 4-0) trailed by two runs entering the top of the seventh and final inning, but by the time they were finished at the plate and on the bases, it was the visiting Mustangs who gained two runs to take what became the game-winning score of 4-3 over the host Lions.
This was the season opener for the Lions, as they are now 0-1 overall.
Lynchburg-Clay began the top of the seventh with a base hit on a two-strike single hit to left field. Next came a steal of second base by Pitzer, and then he went to third on a passed ball. A single off a hard hit ball to left field by Josh Wolfe (2-for-2, two runs, one RBI, two walks) tied the score as Pitzer scored a run, making it a 3-3 game with no outs.
Wolfe moved to second base off a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher by Ethan McConnaughey. Wolfe went to third base off a groundout to second base hit by Caden Hess, putting the go-ahead run at third with two outs.
Austin Proctor reached first on an infield error at shortstop, with Wolfe taking advantage and scoring a run for the final 4-3 advantage.
“I told the boys in the third inning that we are hitting right at them and keep plugging away, and good teams win games like this. Nothing feels better than coming back being down 3-0 and beating a quality team like Fairfield, and they did just that,” Lynchburg-Clay head coach Vince Pitzer said. “This was a team effort. We had some timely walks and hard-hit balls late in the game, and I’m happy so far this season.
“That is what we harped on in the offseason that we want to go the extra inch, and we are starting to click with them. Hopefully they carry it with them throughout the rest of the season.”
At one point in the game, it was the Fairfield Lions who led by a 3-0 score following a home run by Sam Buddelmeyer in the bottom of the third inning.
The inning began with Orrie Friend (1-for-2) hitting a one-out line drive to right field, and then he moved to second off a single to centerfield off the bat of Austin Setty, as he finished 1-for-3 with one run and one walk.
Next was the three-run home run by Buddelmeyer with a 3-2 count against him.
“I’m not disappointed in the guys’ effort. It stinks for us because we ran into Lynchburg-Clay in a big conference game, and it was the first game for us and we have guys in new positions, but we let one slip away at the end,” FHS head coach Jeremy McGraw said. “I can’t fault our effort.”
The Mustangs made it a 3-2 score in the top of the fifth, with Pitzer (1-for-2, one run, two walks) getting things started with a one-out walk on a six-pitch at-bat. Next, Wolfe singled with a line drive to centerfield, moving Pitzer to second base.
McConnaughey reached first on a fielder’s choice with Pitzer out at third and Wolfe moving to second base. Hess (2-for-4, one RBI) knocked in Wolfe off a hit to left field, with the Mustangs gaining their first run of the game. Proctor reached the bases on an error at second base, scoring McConnaughey for the aforementioned 3-2 score.
In all, the Mustangs totaled eight hits and two errors, while the Lions had six hits and three errors.
Alex Barber also had two hits for the Mustangs, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Barber was also strong on the mound as he went 94 pitches in a complete seven-inning game. Barber allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits and one walks. Barber totaled 10 strikeouts in the win as 73 of his pitches went for strikes, including 22 first-pitch strikes.
“I had Barber pulled in the last inning, but he came to me and said he wanted the ball and I told him he was going back out,” Pitzer said. “He went almost 100 pitches, and I usually don’t like throwing a kid that much this early in the season, but I can’t not when a kid comes to me and says he wants the ball, and I have about four or five like that.”
Setty was charged with the loss in 2.1 innings of relief. Setty threw 38 pitches, where he allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and no walks. The senior finished with two strikeouts.
Buddelmeyer had the no-decision where he went 4.2 innings in the start, throwing 88 pitches. Buddelmeyer allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks, ending his outing with six strikeouts. At the plate, Buddelmeyer was 1-for-3.
“Sam did a nice job on the mound, but he just got a little deep in counts when he was ahead 0-2, but it was his first outing, and with basketball going long, he hasn’t got a lot of work in,” McGraw said. “We also only had two scrimmages, so we as a team were a little rusty at times.
“I’m not making any excuses, and you have to give credit to Lynchburg-Clay because they have a nice ball club, and give credit to (Proctor). He kept us off-balanced all night.”
Also having a hit for the Lions was Hunter Burns at 1-for-2 in the game.
Next for the Mustangs is a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 30 against Bethel-Tate, starting at 11 a.m. at LCHS.
The Lions will also next play again on Saturday, March 30 in a non-conference game against Paint Valley at 11 a.m.