On Thursday night the Independence Patriots baseball team hosted the Porter Ridge Pirates in a Southwestern 4A Conference game.
Porter Ridge got things going in the top of the first inning when the Pirates’ lead off hitter J. C. Wright reached on a throwing error and ended up at second base. Michael Starrs drew a walk putting runners at first and second. Indy attempted a pick off play at first base but the throw was really off the mark and bounced off the right baseline fence scoring Wright from second base. On that same play Starrs headed to second but ran past the bag and was tagged out. Porter Ridge hit into a double play to end the top half of the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning, Matthew Mangum hit a single to left field. A few pitches later he stole second and scored on a Corbin Berkovics’ single to center field. With one out and Berkovics on third, Ryan Mangum pops up. Porter Ridge’s catcher moved in position to make the play. With two outs Berkovics left third and started home. As he approached home plate, he ran close to the Pirates’ catcher who drop the pop fly. Instead of scoring a second run, the home plate umpire called Berkovics out for interference which ended the inning with the score tied 1-1.
The Patriots started the second inning by striking out the Pirates lead off hitter. Then Blake Thomas singled to center. With one out and one on, Indy gave up two walks before getting the second out. Michael Starrs came to the plate a walked scoring Thomas. After a pitcher change, Indy walked in a second run before retiring the Pirates and falling behind 2-1.
The Pirates picked up two more runs in the top of the third. The Pirates’ lead off hitter, Michael Starrs, reached on an error and scored on a Blake Thomas double to the center field wall. Thomas moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Jay Stewart’s infield hit making the score 5-1.
In the bottom of the third Matthew Mangum doubled off the left center field wall. Corbin Berkovics came to the plate a singled to left field scoring Mangum to make the score 5-2 after three full innings.
The scored stayed tied until the top of the seventh inning. Porter Ridge starter the final inning with a walk. Max Kuhn sacrificed the runner over to second. The Pirates loaded the bases on two walks. Jay Stewart drove in two runs on a single to right center. JC Wright picked up an RBI on a single to left field scoring Sam Haywood to make the score 8-2.
Indy was unable to pick up any runs the bottom of the inning giving Porter Ridge the conference win.
Indy falls to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
Porter Ridge  1 2 2 0 0 0 3 –  8
Independence 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 2
