In the bottom of the ninth inning with runners in scoring position with no outs, it was Matt Racer’s chance to try and make up for Orange Post 156’s skid in the top of the seventh. Orange entered the bottom of the seventh with a chance to end the game with a four run lead. They took the bottom of the seventh with the game tied as Spotsylvania Post 50 made good on a pair of walks, an error and a wild pitch.
But Orange didn’t squander what was by all accounts, a quality game for both teams. Facing an early 0-2 count, Racer battled back and knocked in teammate Tres Winkler with a game-winning single, giving Post 156 the 5-4 victory.
“I was just trying to put the bat on the ball and nothing more,” Racer said. “(On this team) we all rely on each other to come through and that’s how it worked out.”
This win combined with a 7-2 victory earned earlier in the day gave Orange a tie for second place in District 12 with Spotsylvania.
“We’re playing good baseball right now,” said Orange coach Jessie Lohr. “We’re 4-1 this week and so now we’re in really good position. For us, seeding means a lot because if you finish in second, you get a bye in the first round of the district tournament.”
In game two, Orange picked up its first four runs in the second and fourth innings, two of which came on the back of errors as Spotsylvania infielders struggled with ground balls. Scooter Merryman and Chase Hutchinson were driven in by Dillon Wagner and Racer in the second.
Wagner started the bottom of the fourth with a double and was driven home in the next at-bat on an RBI single from Racer, who scored himself later in the inning on an error.
Post 156 got six and two thirds solid innings from Cody Whitlock. The Eastern View product did not surrender a run in the first six innings he pitched, and between the first and fifth inning he retired 12 of 13 batters he faced.
“I thought Cody threw a quality game for us tonight, throwing a lot strikes,” Lohr said. “It was tough taking him out and putting in another guy, but that was just what the situation called for at that time.”
After Spotsylvania mounted its comeback, Wagner came in relief of Whitlock. Wagner sat down seven of the nine batters he faced and ended up earning the win.
Racer finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored. Merryman was also 2 for 4.
Orange (11-6) will travel to play Fluvanna Post 2003 in its regular season finale.
