Close Games as Major League Resumes
By Chris Tramel
After a two-week halt in play due to Covid-19 concerns, DeKalb Youth Baseball was back on the field last week. Teams dusted off the cobwebs and got back to ball in Major League action.
On Tuesday, August 4, the Rangers faced off against a tough Rice's Tigers team. Neither team would find its way on the scoreboard in the first inning, but Austin Vickers would touch home plate in the second for the Rangers.
Down by one at the bottom of the second, the Tigers opened things up. Aiden Taylor, Keice Hannah, Talon McCrary, Logan Duke, and Silas Kirksey each came in with a run.
The Rangers and Tigers would each get three on base in the third, but wouldn't be able to add to their score.
Vickers would get another run for the Rangers in the fourth inning, as would Nick Daw. But the Tigers would seal up the game with another run by Kirksey, and a run by Tucker Webb. The Tigers would take the 7-3 victory. Aiden Taylor was the winning pitcher.
That same evening, First Bank took on Rice's Tigers, in what would become an exciting game.
First Bank started out slow, going three and out at the top of the first inning, while the Tigers looked to run away with the game. Nick Murphy, Silas Kirksey, Tucker Webb, Luke Johnson, Aiden Taylor, and Keirce Hannah all came in with runs, putting the Tigers up by six.
Undaunted, First Bank came right back in the second inning, getting seven runs of their own. Bryson Arnold, Ben Driver, Cooper Goodwin, Robbie Knox, Logan Duke, Tim Hendrix, and Brad Hale each touched home plate.
The Tigers kept up the pressure with Webb, Johnson and Taylor each adding another run to the board. The Tigers were up 9-7.
First Bank couldn't keep their momentum into the third inning, getting three runners on base, but not able to find home. The Tigers however looked to put the game away. Webb and Johnson each had another run, putting the Tigers up 11-7.
But First Bank was not about to roll over. Duke, Hendrix, Hale, and Arnold put runs on the board in the fourth inning, tying the score. As the clock ticked down, the timed game came to an end, 11-11.
Jon Hendrix pitched for First Bank, while Kirksey threw the heat for the Tigers. He was relieved in the third inning by Webb.
On Friday, August 7, Major League was back on the field, this time with First Bank taking on the Rangers. The match would be another close game that would come down to the final inning.
First Bank came out fast, getting three runs at the top of the first inning. Tucker Webb, Jon Hendrix, and Luke Johnson each touched home. But the Rangers stayed right with them, with Nick Murphy, Evan Prichard, and Aiden Taylor each scored, tying the game 3-3.
At the top of the second, First Bank kept on pushing with Hendrix getting another run, and Silas Kirksey and Bryson Arnold each touching home. The Rangers were only able to come up with one run, with Eli Redmon getting on the board. First Bank was up 6-4.
Things started to fall apart for First Bank in the third inning, unable to put any new points on the board. The Rangers however were still in it to win it. Murphy and Redmon each got another run, while Cooper Odom and Austin Vickers also got to home plate. As the clock wound down, the Rangers were up. They would take the 8-6 win.
Evan Prichard was the winning pitcher, with Nick Murphy coming in relief in the third inning. Jon Hendrix pitched for First Bank.
That same evening Rice Tigers took on the Rangers in another game that would be decided late.
The teams would almost mirror each other in the first inning, each coming in with two runs. Tucker Webb and Aiden Taylor each scored for the Tigers, while Nick Murphy and Brad Hale came home for the Rangers.
Neither team would find the scoreboard in the second inning, and the Tigers would come up scoreless at the top of the third. The Rangers took the lead at the bottom of the third, with a run by Evan Prichard.
It was the top fourth where the Rangers lost control. The Tigers came out strong, with Keice Hannah, Talon McCrary, Webb, Silas Kirksey, Taylor, and Luke Johnson each touch home base. Time was also the Tiger's ally. As the clock would down, the Tigers took an 8-3 victory.
Aiden Taylor was the winning pitcher, with Silas Kirksey taking over in the third. Brad Hale pitched for the Rangers.
