The Red Rock Central / Westbrook Walnut Grove Falcon baseball team traveled to Adrian last Tuesday for a Red Rock Conference game. The Dragons built a lead in the first part of the game, but were forced to come from behind for a 9-8 win.
Noah Reyne started the game on the mound for the Dragons. He struck out the first batter before allowing the next two to get on via a walk and a base hit. Reyne was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run when a strikeout was followed by a nice running catch by right fielder, Nathan Rahe. The Dragons were able to jump out to a lead in the bottom half of the first. Reyne walked with one out and was driven home on a Grant Jansma double. Jansma eventually came home to score when Ian Stamer reached base on an infield error. After one inning of play, the Dragons led 2-0.
The Falcons went down in order in the second inning. Schnoor led off the bottom of the second for the Dragons by reaching base on an infield single. He was erased from the bases when he was caught trying to steal second. With two outs in the inning, Brent Hokeness, Reyne, and Jansma drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Lance Luettel drove two home with a single and Jansma was able to score on an error by the left fielder. After two, Adrian 5 RRC/WWG 0.
RRC/WWG answered the Dragons with three runs of their own in the top of the third. They were able to record three hits, including a double in the inning. Adrian got one run back in the bottom of the third. Stamer led off with a double. He stole third and scored on a Schnoor sac fly. With three complete, Adrian led by a score of 6-3.
Reyne got the first two outs of the fourth quickly, before walking the next batter. He then gave way to Luettel on the mound. Luettel was greeted rudely with an RBI double. He was able to get the next batter to hold the Falcons at one run on the inning. The Dragons went down in order in their half of the fourth, leaving the score 6-4 Dragons.
Luettel pitched a quick 1-2-3 fifth inning. The Dragons then made two quick outs Stamer followed that with a two-out triple to gap in right center. He scored on a wild pitch to make the lead 7-4 for Adrian.
An infield hit, followed by an error started the top of the sixth. Consecutive base hits followed and tied the game, which prompted Luettel to be replaced on the mound by Jansma. Jansma was able to get two outs, before a wild pitch scored the go-ahead run for the Falcons. The Dragons responded to their first deficit of the day with two runs to take back the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Luettel connected for a clutch two-RBI single, scoring Hokeness and Reyne who both reached base via balls. The Dragons led after six, 9-8.
Jansma was able to overcome an error in the top of the seventh to get the win for Adrian with a final score of 9-8.
Stamer and Luettel led the Dragons at the plate. Stamer was 2/3 with a double, triple, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Luettel was 2/3 with four RBI. Jansma had a double, RBI, BB, and scored twice. Schnoor had a single to go along with an RBI and BB. Reyne walked three times and scored three runs. Hokeness walked once while scoring once.
Reyne pitched the first 3.2 innings of the game. He allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out four. Luettel threw 1.1 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits with one strikeout. Jansma pitched the final two innings and didn’t allow a hit or run. He struck out one batter and got the win.
The Dragons 2-3 (1-1 conference) travel to Slayton on Thursday to take on MCC in another Red Rock Conference Game.
