Sullivan Wins First Game In FRC Tournament
The Eagles started their regular baseball season with a victory on Friday. The semi finals were in Union the following Monday, March 20, and stats were unavailable at press time. The story on the rest of the games from the tournament will be next week’s issue of the Sullivan Independent News. On Friday, the Eagles surged past Hermann in round one, 10-4.
In the first inning, Sullivan jumped on the board first as the away team. Cambrian Koch singled on a ground ball to center and advanced to third on an error. Gavin Schmidt reached on an error and Koch scored when Dayton Skaggs hit a successful sacrifice ground ball. Schmidt scored when Chase Blue singled on a line drive to left. Hermann tied the game at two at their first at bat.
In the second inning, the Eagles broke the tie. Lane Blankenship reached first on an error, but was out advancing to second. Seth Valley singled on a line drive and scored on a passed ball from third.
At the top of the fourth, Sullivan added another score. Lucas Parsons singled on a line drive to center and Drake Gawer walked. Lane Blankenship singled on a ground ball and Parsons was out advancing to third. The bases were loaded when Seth Valley was hit by the pitch. Grant Halmick was scored when another batter walked with the bases loaded.
In the sixth inning, the boys tallied another run, but Hermann answered with two runs. After a strikeout, Valley reached on an error. Valley advanced to second on an error and Koch reached on an error made by right field. Valley advanced to third on the same error. Valley scored on a successful sacrifice ground ball. Hermann tallied two runs at their next at bat.
In the seventh inning, the Eagles finished off Hermann. The Eagles soared over Hermann when they tallied five runs at their final at bat. Skaggs reached on a dropped third strike and Blue followed with a walk. Parsons reached on a single and Skaggs was called out advancing to home. Gawer reached on a fly ball single and the bases were loaded. Blue scored when Alex Towes singled on a pop fly to center. Another run was scored when Valley was walked with the bases loaded. The pitcher gave up two balks that scored two runs for Sullivan and Valley was scored when Nolan Ulrich doubled on a fly ball to left.
Gawer got the start on the mound for Sullivan and tallied ten strikeouts in three innings. Schmidt was the relief for three innings and recorded one strikeout. Koch was the closer and had one strikeout.
Parsons was the top hitter who was 3-4 at the plate.