Lincoln Charter – 3          Mountain Island Charter – 4

PBR was on hand at Mountain Island Charter for the 1A West Regional Semi-Final last Friday.  A highly anticipated matchup saw two clubs with high aspirations for the year facing off in a winner take all matchup.  Mountain Island would jump out to a 2-0 lead after the first, and never trailed in the game, but it did need some heroics on the final play of the game to seal the win.

Mountain Island opened the home half of the first with two walks, both coming home to score, without a hit in the inning.  Lincoln Charter would get 1 back in the 2^nd when a two out error scored Max McCreary, cutting the lead in half. 

In the 4^th, Mountain Island would again work 2 walks to start the inning.  A single from Cohen Howard scored Leonard Hadley, pushing the lead to 3-1.  The Raptors would add 1 more in the inning, using 2 more walks to move Grayson Keisler around to eventually score on a wild pitch.

In the 5^th, Lincoln Charter would load the bases with no outs thanks to 3 consecutive singles.  Mountain Island Charter starter, RHP Tyler Crowe induced a strikeout, fielder’s choice, and pop up to get out of the inning, only giving up 1 run.  In total, Crowe worked 5 innings, giving up 4 hits, and 1 earned run, while striking out 6.

Lincoln Charter would load the bases again in the 6^th, with no outs.  Max McCreary doubled to lead the inning off and moved to 3B on a Blake Nelson single.  A walk loaded the bases.  Relief arm Cole Hart got a strikeout, followed by a SAC Fly and a 2^nd strikeout to limit the damage to 1 run, cutting the Raptor lead to 4-3.

In the 7^th, Jacob Smith worked a quick walk, putting the tying run on for Lincoln Charter.  Tyler Steele pinch ran for Smith at 1B, where he would steal 2B during the next at-bat.  With one out, Nick Al-Hussaini singled to right field.  The line drive hit had Steele pause prior to heading to 3B, where he was waived home.  Raptor right fielder Leonard Hadley fired a strike to the plate, cutting down the would be tying run.  Al-Hussaini advanced to 2B on the throw and slid into 2B just ahead of a throw from catcher Jaydin Fermin.  As the play settled Al-Hussaini broke for 3B (hard to tell if he thought he could take an extra base with the infielders out of position, or if he thought he was called out and then realized the ball was live).  A quick run down was well executed by the Raptors, ending the game, and advancing Mountain Island Charter to the West Region Final.

 

Mountain Island Charter Notes:
+ Raptors scored 4 runs on 1 hit, using 8 walks
+ Tyler Crowe – Win, 5IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 3BB, 6K
+ Cole Hart – Save, 2IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 3K

Lincoln Charter Notes:
+ Cole Nelson – Loss, 3.1IP, 1H, 4R, 4ER, 7BB, 8K
+ Tucker Thompson – 2.2IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K
+ Max McCreary – 1-2, 2B, 2R
+ Blake Nelson – 2-3
+ Dylan Verdi – 1-2, 1R

*Scout Blog coming soon from the 3^rd Round Games across the state.