Pioneers split with Devils

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

Josh Bratcher fires the ball home to retire a Lebanon baserunner during Thursday night’s game at Patrick Ramsey Field. Bratcher won the game Thursday, coming all the way around to score after connecting for a hit to left. (Rob Nunley photo)

The Pioneers salvaged a split in their District 7-AAA series with Lebanon Thursday night, winning a 10-9 thriller in eight innings thanks to a one-out shot from Josh Bratcher.

With Colby Killian aboard via a walk, Bratcher laced a base knock down the left field line that was misplayed by the Blue Devils’ Michael Rosshirt, allowing Killian to score and Bratcher to motor all the way home with the game-winning run.

Lebanon, which scored two runs against Jared Qualls in the seventh to tie the game at 8-8, had plated a run off Pioneer reliever Todd Gilley in the top of the eighth to go ahead, setting the stage for Bratcher’s heroics.

The Blue Devils got to Warren County (9-12, 3-3 in district play) early, striking for three first-inning runs against Pioneer hurler Joey Haston.

Warren County came charging back in the second, plating four runs, including two on a triple to center field from Chase McGee, who finished with two hits and scored three runs.

Bratcher, Nick Cantrell, Stephen Ehrhardt and Tyler Herriman also had hits in the inning.

The Pioneers plated single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings, going up 7-3, but Lebanon got to Haston for three more in the sixth, the final two coming on a dropped fly ball in right from Killian.

McGee walked to start the Pioneer sixth, stole second, and came home when Herriman connected for an RBI double to left, giving the Pioneers an 8-6 lead they would lose in the seventh.

Herriman had a pair of hits for WCHS, as did Jacob and Josh Bratcher.

• Wednesday in Lebanon, the Pioneers dropped a 2-0 heart-breaker, with both of the Blue Devils’ runs unearned. Jacob Bratcher and Haston had a pair of hits each in the loss, and Killian took the decision on the mound after working the game’s first five innings.

The Pioneers will travel to Blackman tonight, and play host to the Blaze Saturday at 4:30 p.m.