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Squirrels bounced from title contention by Crawford Co. 6-5 during Fighting Squirrel Classic
CHARLESTON -- Despite coming in as the reigning champions, the Charleston Fighting Squirrels find themselves out of the hunt after the first round in this year's Fighting Squirrel Classic.
Unable to hold on to an early four-run lead against Crawford County on Thursday, Charleston was pushed to the consolation bracket with a 6-5 loss in 10 innings on a walk-off single.
"Anytime you play a 10 inning game you have a chance to win," Squirrels' head coach Michael Minner said. "We just didn't swing the bats at all today. Give all the credit to their pitchers, they were good.
"Taylor Thompson is a Class 3 all-stater. He's one of the best pitchers in the state and he battled for eight innings. The kid who came in after him, Ryan Bouse, was winging it too."
As Minner said, it was Thompson's efforts that gave Crawford County the chance to come from behind. In his eight innings of work he allowed six hits and two while striking out five.
Bouse closed the game out and earned the win with two frames of work where he retired all six batters he faced and fanned one.
Thompson's only damage came in the top of the second when Charleston rallied for five run after a potential inning-ending double play was erased on a missed relay at second.
The error was compounded when Tim Fox was hit with the bases loaded to tie the game, 1-1, and Cody Payne gave the Squirrels their first lead with a two-run bases-loaded single.
Ryan Fortner followed suit with a two-run double to put Charleston on top 5-1 on three hits, a walk and one costly error.
"It put us behind then eight ball, but we're a resilient club," Crawford County head coach Kenny Hohe said of the botched double play. "These guys have been through a lot of big games and big situations."
Taylor responded by finishing his day on the mound with six shutout innings as he team fought back into contention. A three-run rally in the bottom of the third closed Crawford County within a run and in the fifth an error on a bunt allowed the tying run to score from first.
Both teams had several opportunities in regulation to put the game, but none greater than the Squirrels chance in the top of the sixth.
Matt Ulrich and Jason Mattison both reached to start the inning before an intentional walk to Fox loaded the bases with no outs.
Crawford County's decision to give Fox a free pass paid off when a hard hit grounder to short resulted in a double-play at home and first base. One final ground out near first base ended the threat
It was in the bottom of the tenth when Crawford County took advantage of a leadoff double from Thompson. Dalton Nilges followed up with a bunt to send him to third and No. 3 hitter Ryan Bouse stepped to the plate with one out.
Bouse sent a line drive to centerfield that easily scored Thompson for the walk-off win that advanced his team to the quarterfinals.
"He's our leadoff hitter and does a great job of seeing pitches," Hohe said of Thompson. "He got one he liked that got up a little bit and he put it there in right center for a double. I knew once we had a runner ins coring position we have three solid hitters coming up.
"I felt like we had a good chance to put one in."
Charleston's offensive effort was hampered early on when Fortner, hitting in the third spot, was lost to the designated hitter rule. The Squirrels were forced to pull starting pitcher Brad Potts due to tightness and with him came Fortner to the bench as his designated hitter.
In his only two at bats, Fortner reached twice, doubled and drove in two runs.
"Potts was a little tight so we pulled him as a precaution to make sure we're not hurting anything," Minner said. "Fortner had a great day. Unfortunately he fell victim to the DH rule. He's the designated hitter so when we had to make a pitching change with Potts we lose out on the DH.
"Fortner has had arm surgery and is unable to throw (in the field) right now. All he can really do is hit. When we lose him that's the heart of our lineup. He has been for three years. When nobody else is hitting, he kind of carries us."
The Squirrels were outhit in the contest 13-6. Colton Hampton led the way with two hist while Payne, Fortner, Doug Still and Ulrich contributed a hit each.
For Crawford County, Bouse and Bryer Nash had three hits each with Nash doubling and also drawing a walk. Thompson and Nash had two hits each.
Crawford County moved on to face Mayfield, Ken., at 5 p.m. today in the tournament quarterfinals. With the loss, Charleston (12-3) will play Senath-Hornersville in the consolation bracket today at 1 p.m.
Both games are at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.
Charleston 050 000 000 0 - 5
Crawford 103 010 000 1 - 6
WP -- Ryan Bouse. LP -- Ty Householder. Multiple hitters: (CH) Colton Hampton 2-3; (CC) Taylor Thompson 2-5, Ryan Bouse 3-6, Bryer Nash 2-5, Mason Price 3-4. 2B -- (CH) Ryan Fortner; (CC) Thompson, Price.