While Monday, May 8, was supposed to be the last game, there were make ups with Ephrata scheduled for Tuesday and a non-league contest with Exeter on Thursday. The original Exeter game was to be played on March 28 and then again on April 29 and then on May 11. Mother Nature had the “last laugh” as usual and the Exeter game was simply cancelled for this season- three strikes you’re out. On Tuesday, the Mounts came to Solanco. The Mules were looking for a much better performance this time against a team which beat them by nine runs in April and had 14 JV victories so far. Coleman Dow was the starting pitcher for Solanco. A hit by pitch, a throwing error and a single led to two Ephrata runs in the first. A couple of bases on balls and a single gave the Mounts a 3-0 lead in the second.
Dow got a bunt base hit and after a walk to Joey Gote, Dow stole and scored on an overthrow making it 3-1. Despite preparing for a “leave early” trick play, Ephrata “pulled it off” and added a run with two out in the third to make the score 4-1 in their favor. Grady Unger then relieved and hurled three scoreless innings. The Mules did load the bases in the fifth as pinch hitters KJ Nerys and Nick Jones, walked and Unger singled but the threat was averted on a strike out and ground out. Thus the mounts won 4-1. While JV games only go six innings unless tied, the Mules and the Bucks of Conestoga Valley decided to “test the waters” in Monday’s game. The contest would eventually last 10 innings. CV scored two in the first but Solanco came back with three as Unger singled, Henry Woy was hit by a pitch, Hayden Fox doubled in Unger, Mike May singled in Woy and Zach Fritz drove in Fox with a sacrifice fly. The Bucks regained the lead in the third, 4-3, but again the Mules overtook them 5-4 as Woy and Fox singled and a fielder’s choice ground out by Luke Brown plated Woy. Brown later scored on a singled from Fritz. The Mules took a 6-4 lead in the fourth as Woy singled, Fox reached on a fielder’s choice, May then singled. With heads up base running, Fox scored from second on a ground out to the mound. CV tied the game in the fifth with a couple of singles and a double. Mike May was relieved by Coleman Dow in the eighth and Grady Unger came on with 2 out in the ninth. Meanwhile no runs were scored by either team. In the top of the tenth, on a walk, single and wild pitch, CV had runners at second and third with one out—the mules turned a 1-2-6-2 “double play” - yes, Unger fielded a grounder at the mound threw home to get the runner, Fritz, the catcher then threw to the SS, May as the batter was trying to get to second: however, May then returned the throw to home to get the next runner trying to score. Building on that exciting play, Hayden Fox led off with a walk, Mike May singled him to second, with one out, Zach Frits hit a fly ball down the right field line, Fox went back to tag up, the outfielder dropped the ball in fair territory and Fox sprinted around sliding safely to give the Mules the 7-6 victory. Comments are closed.
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