The First National Bank Cal Ripken boys baseball team defeated Gaines Photography 4-3 in their first game of tournament play. The victory leaves First National with an overall record of 14-1.
Jacob Stephens took the mound for First National, getting Gaines to go down quietly as he struck out the first two batters he faced before Rhett Farmer grounded out second to first to end the top of the first.
First National picked up a single tally in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Creighton Simmonds led off with a four pitch walk, and he stole second and third. Alex Gowin struck out after going full in the count, and Payton Hartbank followed by getting a free pass, also on four pitches. Jacob Stephens hit a ball back to the pitcher who tried to throw home to get Simmonds at the plate, but his throw was wild, allowing Stephens to take second on the play as Hartbank moved to third. Wyatt Krikie took a called third strike and Skyler Bryant popped up to shortstop as First National went back to take the field for the second inning of play.
Jacob Perry had an infield single to start things off for Gaines, and he moved to second when the ball got away from first baseman Skyler Bryant. Wyatt Montgomery followed with an RBI single into right center field on the first pitch he saw. Blake Massey struck out swinging, Jackson Berg was called out on strikes and Trevor Watkins popped out to second baseman Creighton Simmonds as Gaines could do no further damage, but they had tied the score at one run apiece.
Alec Carey took strike three to start the third for First National. Daniel Ferguson bounded a sharply hit grounder to first on a 2-1 count for out number two, but Bobby Pearson walked on a 3-2 pitch. Chris Butler, also facing a 3-2 count, went down swinging as pitcher Austin Wetzel pulled the string, ending the second inning.
Payton Hartbank took over pitching duties in the top of the third, and his off-speed deliveries were too much for the Gaines batters as the side was retired one-two-three with each batter striking out.
First National's big inning came in the bottom of the third when they struck for three runs. Dylan McBride was called out on strikes, bringing the top of the order, and Creighton Simmonds worked the count full before hitting an infield single to third. Alex Gowin took a 2-1 pitch the opposite way into left field for a single, moving Simmonds to second. Both runners moved up one base on a wild pitch as Payton Hartbank walked to load the bases for Jacob Stephens, who unloaded on a one strike pitch fastball for a bases-clearing triple into deep right center field to give First National a 4-1 lead. Wyatt Krikie stepped to the plate and smashed a line drive that was caught by the first baseman who turned the catch into an inning-ending double play as Stephens could not get back to third base in time.
Momentum definitely seemed to shift in favor of Gaines after the double play, and they responded by scoring two runs of their own. Payton Hartbank was a bit wild as he walked the first three batters. The first two batters of the inning, Austin Wetzel and Derek Pierce, both scored when they pulled off a double steal. The throw from catcher Jacob Stephens sailed into center field, which allowed Wetzel to come in from third, and when center fielder Alex Gowin's throw to third baseman Wyatt Krikie went into the dugout Pierce came home as well.
Coach Chris Hartbank called timeout to settle his team down and to change pitchers, bringing in Alex Gowin. Jacob Perry reached on a fielder's choice as Krikie threw out Farmer at second base. Wyatt Montgomery walked on four straight, but Gowin struck out Blake Massey on a full count for out number two. Jackson Berg popped out to catcher Stephens in foul territory to end the inning.
First National did not score in the bottom of the fourth as they left one runner in scoring position. Daniel Ferguson had a two out single up the middle and stole second where he remained as Bobby Pearson struck out.
Although Gaines had two infield singles in the top of the fifth inning, they could do no damage. Alex Gowin struck out Austin Wetzel on a two strike pitch that was over Wetzel's head that ended the threat.
First National fared no better in the bottom of the fifth as Chris Butler, Dylan McBride and Creighton Simmonds were all called out on strikes.
Gaines had one last shot as the top of the sixth inning rolled around. Derek Pierce grounded out third to first for out number one. Rhett Farmer doubled off the wall into deep center field, but Jacob Stephens, back on the mound to finish what he had started, struck out Jacob Perry and Wyatt Montgomery to earn both the win and the save. The last pitch was a foul tip that was held on by Daniel Ferguson, who caught the ball just off the ground.
Following the game the team was awarded their trophies for finishing in first place for the regular season.
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