The Galion Graders baseball team rallied late against the Lake Erie Monarchs, but came up short with a 8-5 loss at Heise Park.
The Graders jumped out on top in the first inning with Robert Jones scoring their first run on a single by Trevor Snyder.
Then came the second inning and the Monarchs got on the board by putting up four runs in their half of the inning.
“The free bases add up and it is troubling to get back your focus when pitching” said Galion Graders head coach Taylore Baker. Starting pitcher Mark Delas only made it through three innings before handing the ball over to Jonathon Murphy in the beginning of the fourth inning. Delas for the night gave up 5 runs with 2 of them earned, striking out 4 batters and walking 5 batters on 81 pitches.
Murphy pitched two and two-thirds innings giving up 2 runs with 1 being earned. Murphy walked one and had no strikeouts. Kipp Brewer took the mound for the last three innings and gave up 1 run with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.
“I stressed to our pitchers to the importance of getting ahead of batters” said Baker. “Our bullpen did a great job tonight after the first few innings.”
The Graders rallied late. They put up 2 runs in the eighth inning with Tyler Cowles and Trevor Snyder both scoring.
The Graders scored another run in the bottom of the ninth when Reilly Hawkins crossed the plate, but the Monarchs pitcher was able to refocus and put the game away with two Graders left on the bases.
Even though the Graders came up short, Baker was pleased with his team. “We have a ton of talent this year and I believe we hit the ball well tonight throughout the batting order and I expect us to be at the top this year.”
