Not many teams have been in more close games this summer than Orange Post 156, and with one spot remaining in the District 12 championship, it was fitting that Monday night’s bout with Spotsylvania Post 320 was decided by one run.
After rallying back in the top of the eighth and then taking the lead in the ninth, Orange’s season came to a dramatic end in the bottom of the ninth as Spotsylvania was able to load the bases with no outs, drive in a pair of runners and plate the winning run with two outs on a wild pitch for an 8-7 win.
“That was one heck of a ball game,” said Post 320 coach Steve Russnack. “But for the most part this season, whenever we’ve need a big hit, run or big play someone’s been able to deliver.”
Spotsylvania nipped Orange for five runs over the first five innings — leadoff hitter Nick Lacik tagged home after a single in the first, Travis Payne came up with an RBI single in the third, Lacick doubled in two runs in the fourth and Chris Ardiente brought in a run on a single in the fifth.
Conversely, Orange was also able to put runners on the basepaths, but until the eighth inning Spotsylvania was able able to keep them in check. Four Post 156 runners were either thrown out stealing, picked off or forced into a run down with one out or less in the first five innings.
“I thought we did a good job of hitting the ball tonight,” said Orange coach Jessie Lohr. “Unfortunately, we did not do ourselves any favors on the basepaths and that really hurt us.”
Heading into the eighth, Chris Bittner’s RBI ground out in the second inning accounted for Orange’s only run. But with six outs remaining, things turned around quickly.
Jesse Getchel started the 4-run rally to tie the game by leading the eighth off with a single. Bittner was then advanced Getchel and reached base himself on a throwing error after a bunt. Snooter Merryman cut the lead to two runs on a triple hit to center. In the very next at-bat, Dillon Wagner also cranked a shot to center and hustled around the bases for a triple to make it a 1-run game. Finally, Tres Winkler knotted things up one a 6-3 groundout to score Wagner.
After Zach Reininger shutout down Spotsylvania in the bottom of the eighth, he and Wagner put Orange out in front for the first time in the game on an RBI fielders choice and RBI single respectively.
The game quickly turned back in Post 320’s favor in the bottom of the ninth. Lacik led the inning off with a triple to the gap and a walk and error loaded the bases with no outs. Cameron Tubbs brought in Lacik on a sacrifice fly and Zach Harding tied the game up with an RBI double. Orange picked up a strikeout from Chris Whitlock to give the team hope, but with Harding on third, a wild pitch opened up a window to score. Harding ran home and was tagged by Whitlock, but ruled safe in the end to decide the game.
For Orange, Getchel was 3 for 5 with a run scored. Wanger was 2 for 4 with two RBI. Reininger was 3 for 5 with an RBI. The loss ends Orange’s season.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Lohr said. “In summer baseball sometimes it’s easy to not come out with your best. There was only one time this team did that. Every other time these guys came out and fought hard all the way through every game.”
The win sends Spotsylvania 320 to play Albemarle today at Porterfield Park in Orange at 7 p.m. With Albemarle having won all its tournament games so far, Spotsylvania will have to win and force a final game on Wednesday.
