Friday Split

The Rays split two Friday games in Nashville, beating the Music City Outlaws 11-8 in the afternoon heat at Nashville Christian School, then losing the nightcap 10-1 to the 18U Ohio Elite at Lipscomb University’s Dugan Field. Will went 1-2 with a HBP, scored two runs, and stole three bases. He didn’t get much action in left field.

Seven of the first eight Outlaws reached base in the top of the first, and the Rays quickly found themselves down five runs. RT then pitched three scoreless innings, allowing the Rays to get back in the game.

Leading off the second, Will reached first and stole second. Dustin was hit, and both advanced on a wild pitch. Will scored on Cole’s grounder, and a balk plated Dustin.

The Rays took the lead in the third. Parker walked and Bradley was hit, then Tyler slugged a three-run home run to tie the game. Will was hit, but Dustin’s grounder forced him at second. Cole’s single and AJ’s walk loaded the bases, then Dustin tagged and scored the go-ahead run on Austin’s sacrifice fly.

The offense kept it up in the fourth, rudely greeting the Outlaws’ new relief pitcher. Jake reached on a dropped third strike and Parker singled. Bradley then hit a three-run homer of his own. Tyler doubled. Will hit a grounder off the third-baseman’s outstretched glove, that bounded to the shortstop. The shortstop threw the ball way, allowing Tyler to score. Will stole second and third, and scored when the catcher’s throw got past the third-baseman.

There were a few bright spots in the loss to the older Ohio Elite, supposedly the best team in Ohio. Fowke struck out the 2-3-4 hitters in order in the first, after a leadoff double. He later struck out the leadoff hitter. In the second he only allowed two unearned runs.

But after calling mostly strikes for both teams in the first two innings, the strike zone suddenly shrank in the third. When the second Elite batter took ball three, the umpire waved him to first. Everyone, including the batter, was astounded. The Elite scored two in the second, three in the third, and five in the fourth. Ritchie did make an outstanding catch in right field.

Will scored the lone run for the Rays, pinch-running for pitcher Tyler, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth inning. Will stole second, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on Cole’s sacrifice fly to left.

Jake and Dustin both went two for two, and Tyler and AJ went one for one.

Will was brought in to pitch the last inning, giving him experience against the tough competition. He struck out the first two batters he faced. After a walk, he got the number three hitter in the order to hit it back to him. He lunged to his right to field the ball, almost diving to the ground, before getting to his feet and tossing over to Kyle at first.