Post 284 Colonial Heights Bucs fall short to Post 137 South Richmond in extra innings

June 28--COLONIAL HEIGHTS -- The Post 284 Colonial Heights Bucs had their chances but came up a little short against Post 137 South Richmond on Friday night at Shepherd Stadium.

The Bucs lost to Post 137 4-2 in 10 innings.

Despite the loss and being about six players short on their roster, assistant coach Herbert Wheat was encouraged by all the little things that the Bucs showed.

"It was a good solid effort. I thought it was a plus that we played this well without five or six of our guys," Wheat said. "I think that we can carry that into the future with those positives because we got something out of it."

However, like Wheat mentioned it was a slow start for the Bucs against South Richmond as the visitors got on board first in the top of the third inning.

Prior to that, both teams had played sound defense with earning a total of three double plays combined.

But it was in the top of the third that the Bucs got into a jam when both Brett Jones and Luke Tyree hit back-to-back base hits off of pitcher Rick Spiers of Matoaca.

Then as Tyler Fitzgerald hit a fielder's choice to second that allowed Jones to steal third setting up for a wild pitch while Ryan Hall was at the plate.

With the wild pitch that allowed Jones to score and take the 1-0 lead for Post 137.

"I thought that we started off kind of sluggish, but those double plays early on were big," Wheat said.

Post 137 continued with the momentum going into the fourth inning as the visitors scored their second run of the night.

KC Caldwell got the ball rolling with a double to deep left only to have Chris King extend him to third on a single to left field.

Two batters later on a sacrifice bunt by Jones that allowed Caldwell to score and give Post 137 the 2-0 lead.

But that was it for a while as it was the Post 284 Bucs' turn get the ball moving.

Later in the fifth inning, the Bucs were able to get something going as Rashad Stewart got a base hit to left field. Then Spiers added another single to left field to put runners on first and second.

However, on a bad throw from the catcher to try and catch the runner at second, Stewart was able to steal both third and home to cut the lead to 2-1.

Over the next two innings, Spiers would show great control for the Bucs as he held the Post 137 hitters to no extra runs.

"Pitching is not why we lost the game tonight I thought that Spiers got stronger as the game went on and Rashad he threw as well as he could even with the defense giving up a few players, he was able to pitch out of it," Wheat said.

Later in the bottom of the seventh, the Bucs were able to tie the game at 2-2. Grand Boyd led the inning off with a single left field. That set up for an infield hit for Stewart.

However on a pop up fly ball to center the umpire called out Boyd who was called for leaving the bag too soon at second for the double play.

But that didn't stop the pace for the Bucs as Spiers added a walk only to have Mitchell rip an RBI single up center field to tie the game at 2-2.

Over the next two innings, the Post 284 Bucs defense tried to contain the Post 137 hitters as best as they can.

The Bucs had a chance in the bottom of the ninth after Spiers earned a walk and Mitchell earned a single to left field but a strikeout and a ground ball to the pitcher fell short.

"We had our chance to score and we didn't. We couldn't get the runners across," Wheat said.

It was then after nine innings worth of work, that the game went into extras. Post 137 South Richmond made the most of their time at the plate.

Fitzgerald led off with a walk followed up with single to left field by Keith Roberts. Then a bunt out to third base extended the runners to second and third only to have Caldwell advance to first on a drop third strike.

On Caldwell's drop third strike that broke the tie as Fitzgerald came across for the run and the 3-2 lead.

King then delivered with an RBI single to bring in Roberts and give Post 137 the extra insurance run at 4-2.

That proved to be enough as the Bucs couldn't counter those runs in the bottom of the 10th inning.

The Post 284 Colonial Heights Bucs move to 2-2 on the season and will travel to play at James River High School against Post 206 at noon.

POST 137 SOUTH RICHMOND 001 100 000 2 -- 4 10 3

POST 284 COLONIAL HEIGHTS BUCS 000 010 100 0 -- 2 9 2

WP: Flannagan and King

LP: Stewart and Mitchell

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