Indy’s Drew Harris took the mound Tuesday night as the Independence Patriots hosted the East Mecklenburg Eagles in a Southwestern 4A Conference baseball game.
East Meck opened the game with a first inning run. After the Eagles’ lead off hitter flied out, Sabian Jones was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch. Jones went to second on a passed ball and scored on Jared King’s single to center field.
The Patriots answered in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. Bryson Jusko reached on an error by East Meck’s second baseman. Noah Howie followed and hit a double to deep left field scoring Jusko. Howie scored on a wild pitch to give the Patriots the lead after one full inning.
East Meck had a big third inning scoring their first three batters. Chauncey Harris led off with a base hit to right field. Will Treadaway stepped to the plate, and Indy’s Coach Skinner call for an intentional walk. With two on and no outs, Sabian Jones stepped in and tripled to center field scoring Harris and Treadaway. Jared King picked up an RBI driving Jones home to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead.
The Eagles had another three run inning in the top half of the fifth. East Meck’s Trey Truitt drew a walk and scored on a Sabian Jones double. Jones advanced to third on the throw to the plate. With Jones on third, Jared King singled to left field scoring Jones.
With one out and the bases loaded, Indy’s Coach Skinner went to the mound and called on Connor Randall to relieve Harris. Randall’s first hitter popped up to catcher Noah Howie for East Meck’s second out. The Eagles’ next batter drew a walk which scored King from third base. Randall got the Patriots out of the inning by striking out East Meck’s next batter as the Eagles took a 7-1 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning East Meck called on senior Jared King to relieve starting pitcher Jack Meltsner. King sat down Indy’s first two batters.
With two away, Bryson Jusko came to the plate and hit a single to center field. A few pitches later Jusko moved over to second on a passed ball. Noah Howie picked up an RBI with a single to left field scoring Jusko. With Howie on first, Raja Milton hit a single to right field moving Howie to third base. On a East Meck passed ball, Howie came home and Milton moved up to second base. A few pitches later Milton stole third.
Tate Peterman came to the plate pinch hitting for Indy’s pitcher. Peterman drew a walk. With Tyson Clawson at the plate, Peterman stole second putting Indy runners at second and third with two outs. Clawson hit a shot to right center scoring Milton and Peterman. However, Indy’s run was stopped as Clawon was thrown out at second but not before cutting East Meck’s lead to one 7-6.
East Meck blew the game open in the top of the sixth scoring six runs on four hits to take a 13-6 lead.
Indy managed to get one run in the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Moser doubled and wound up at third on a passed ball. Moser got a big jump on a Ben Hagan ground ball to short. East Meck’s shortstop made the play at first as Moser scored to make the score 13-7.Neither team scored in the seventh and East Meck took the conference win 13-7.
East Mecklenburg 103 036 0 – 13
Independence 200 041 0 – 7
