Middle innings doom Lions, lose to Rockets
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG — Scoring three runs in the first inning wasn't nearly enough for the Fairfield Lions to keep the lead Tuesday night against the Fayetteville Rockets.
Following the first inning, the visiting Rockets ignited to score nine runs in the next four innings, defeating the host Lions 9-4 in a Southern Hills League matchup.
Fayetteville stays undefeated in the SHL, moving to 5-0 in the league and 6-5 overall on the season with the win. The loss sends the Lions to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in the SHL.
"We gave Fayetteville free bases on walks and errors, and if you want to beat a team like Fayetteville, you can't continue to do that," Fairfield head coach Ritchie Butler said. "I will say I was pleased with our communication (Tuesday).
"We've made improvement, but we must put it all together. We just need to cut down on the mental and base-running errors."
The two teams combined for 24 hits, with Fairfield tallying 13, including five hits in the first inning.
The Lions' three-run first inning began with Cody Bennett hitting a single, followed by a two-strike base hit by Blake Hildebrant. Bennett and Hildebrant each moved up a base on a wild pitch, eventually scoring on a bases-clearing double by Kyle Carson. Joey Wilson then singled, scoring Carson, who took third base on a ground out by Zach Cox.
Leading the Lions at the plate was Bennett, going 4-for-4 with two runs. Hildebrant was 2-for-4 with one run. Carson finished 1-for-3, including a double, two RBIs and one run.
Cox also produced at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one RBI. Cox now has at least one hit in all 12 games this season.
Following the first inning, the Lions didn't score another run until the bottom of the sixth inning, where base-running miscues stopped their potential rally. They scored the one run with three hits and one error by the Rockets in the inning.
"We had plenty of opportunities late in the game, but mistakes on the bases, and with Fayetteville making plays, we squandered those opportunities," Butler said. "Those type of innings and plays were the turning points of the game."
The bottom of the sixth began with Chase Fulkerson, who was 2-for-3, singling on a 1-1 count. Bennett followed suit with a two-strike base hit. Following an infield fly hit by the Lions, the base-running miscues in the sixth began with a runner tagged out at third base as he was trying to advance to the base.
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Later with two outs in the sixth, the FHS base running resumed, as they were caught between second and third base, getting forced back and tagged out at second base for the third out of the inning. The lone run in the inning came when Bennett scored on a base hit by Cox.
As for the Rockets, though, they trailed early, scored one run in the second and took the lead in the fourth with a three-run inning. They cushioned their advantage to six runs with a five-run fifth.
In the five-run fifth, the Rockets tallied those runs on five hits and no errors.
For the game, leading the Rockets were Luke Allen, Tanner Williams, Cody Shaw, Stephen Pappas, Derek Peters, Nick Helmers and Dion Barber, who totaled the 11 Fayetteville hits.
Peters led Fayetteville with a perfect 3-for-3 day, including a double, two runs, one walk and one RBI. Barber was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Allen forced three walks, and Pappas had one run and one RBI. Helmers was 2-for-3 with two runs, one walk and one RBI.
The loss on the mound went to Wilson, who pitched 4 1-3 innings. Wilson allowed six earned runs on six hits and seven walks. He struck out three. Dylan Rhode pitched 2 2-3 innings of relief, finishing with one run (one earned) on five hits and two walks.
Casey Boyer earned the win for Fayetteville. Boyer pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on 13 hits and two walks. He struck out two. Peters pitched the final inning for the Rockets, allowing no hits and no runs while walking one.
The Lions will play again on Thursday as they host North Adams. On Friday, FHS will host Ripley.
BOX SCORE
FAHS 010 350 0 — 9 11 3
FHS 300 001 0 — 4 13 3
Following the first inning, the visiting Rockets ignited to score nine runs in the next four innings, defeating the host Lions 9-4 in a Southern Hills League matchup.
Fayetteville stays undefeated in the SHL, moving to 5-0 in the league and 6-5 overall on the season with the win. The loss sends the Lions to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in the SHL.
"We gave Fayetteville free bases on walks and errors, and if you want to beat a team like Fayetteville, you can't continue to do that," Fairfield head coach Ritchie Butler said. "I will say I was pleased with our communication (Tuesday).
"We've made improvement, but we must put it all together. We just need to cut down on the mental and base-running errors."
The two teams combined for 24 hits, with Fairfield tallying 13, including five hits in the first inning.
The Lions' three-run first inning began with Cody Bennett hitting a single, followed by a two-strike base hit by Blake Hildebrant. Bennett and Hildebrant each moved up a base on a wild pitch, eventually scoring on a bases-clearing double by Kyle Carson. Joey Wilson then singled, scoring Carson, who took third base on a ground out by Zach Cox.
Leading the Lions at the plate was Bennett, going 4-for-4 with two runs. Hildebrant was 2-for-4 with one run. Carson finished 1-for-3, including a double, two RBIs and one run.
Cox also produced at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one RBI. Cox now has at least one hit in all 12 games this season.
Following the first inning, the Lions didn't score another run until the bottom of the sixth inning, where base-running miscues stopped their potential rally. They scored the one run with three hits and one error by the Rockets in the inning.
"We had plenty of opportunities late in the game, but mistakes on the bases, and with Fayetteville making plays, we squandered those opportunities," Butler said. "Those type of innings and plays were the turning points of the game."
The bottom of the sixth began with Chase Fulkerson, who was 2-for-3, singling on a 1-1 count. Bennett followed suit with a two-strike base hit. Following an infield fly hit by the Lions, the base-running miscues in the sixth began with a runner tagged out at third base as he was trying to advance to the base.
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Later with two outs in the sixth, the FHS base running resumed, as they were caught between second and third base, getting forced back and tagged out at second base for the third out of the inning. The lone run in the inning came when Bennett scored on a base hit by Cox.
As for the Rockets, though, they trailed early, scored one run in the second and took the lead in the fourth with a three-run inning. They cushioned their advantage to six runs with a five-run fifth.
In the five-run fifth, the Rockets tallied those runs on five hits and no errors.
For the game, leading the Rockets were Luke Allen, Tanner Williams, Cody Shaw, Stephen Pappas, Derek Peters, Nick Helmers and Dion Barber, who totaled the 11 Fayetteville hits.
Peters led Fayetteville with a perfect 3-for-3 day, including a double, two runs, one walk and one RBI. Barber was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Allen forced three walks, and Pappas had one run and one RBI. Helmers was 2-for-3 with two runs, one walk and one RBI.
The loss on the mound went to Wilson, who pitched 4 1-3 innings. Wilson allowed six earned runs on six hits and seven walks. He struck out three. Dylan Rhode pitched 2 2-3 innings of relief, finishing with one run (one earned) on five hits and two walks.
Casey Boyer earned the win for Fayetteville. Boyer pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on 13 hits and two walks. He struck out two. Peters pitched the final inning for the Rockets, allowing no hits and no runs while walking one.
The Lions will play again on Thursday as they host North Adams. On Friday, FHS will host Ripley.
BOX SCORE
FAHS 010 350 0 — 9 11 3
FHS 300 001 0 — 4 13 3