Game number five was a little slow in getting started. We had a brief delay due to rain and finally got started. The first inning opened with Corbin Hoffner on the mound for Sebring and was a short at bat for Okeechobee. Mark Weir ripped a nice single through the middle and stole second but was left stranded. Corbin Hoffner struck out two of our boys for the first and third outs and the Sebring defense made a solid play from short to first for the second. The Chobee defense was tough and stood their ground behind pitcher Mark Weir. All three of the first three batters got a hold of the ball but could not battle against the Chobee fielders. A fly to centerfield was caught by Noah Wilcox. A routine play from second to first (Coleman to Farrell) produced the second out, and a fly ball to Finney at short ended the inning. The inning was scoreless.
The second inning was quick for the Chobee at the plate. (3 up and 3 down, as the saying goes) However, the two separate delays due to lightning caused tension to grow because this inning lasted forty-five minutes including delays. Although all three batters (Jackson, Coleman and Harden) got the bat on the ball for good solid hits, Sebring defense was not going to let it be that easy. With Sebring at bat, Jonathan Knight bunted and raced to the base for a single and managed to steal second and third. However, Mark Weir ended that thought by sending the next three Sebring batters back to the dug-out with their first strikeouts of the game. Once again, no score at the end of inning number two.
Inning number three seemed like a rerun of one and two. Okeechobee's at bat was short Dean Radebaugh stroked a nice single up the middle and stole second but was unable to score with the other three batters of the inning unable to produce a hit. Sebring was able to connect with the ball in inning three but Okeechobee's defense remained tough. A great play from short to first (Finney to Farrell), and two fly balls (one to Coleman at second and the other to Wilcox in centerfield) ended yet another scoreless inning.
Sebring opened the fourth inning with Daniel Ware on the mount. He didn't toss too many pitches because the Chobee boys were all over the ball. However, Sebring's boys only allowed one hit by Will Jackson with a single to shortstop. He was left on base. With Mark Weir still on the mound, Sebring make him work. Their first batter of the inning, Corbin Hoffner, patiently worked through six pitches and earned a walk to first base. A solid double zinged past Weir and into the outfield for a double and advanced Hoffner to third. A bunt by Buddy Mays gave him a single, allowing Hoffner to score. Jonathan Knight scored when Taylor Townsend ripped a single between short and third for a single but Mays, Townsend were later thrown out in a triple play when Daniel Ware hit a ball to third for the unassisted out made by Will Jackson who whipped the ball to Farrell on first for the second out. Farrell fired back to Jackson on third nailing Buddy Mays for the third out. As cried from the Chobee croud of "Whoop! There it is!" could be heard around the park, Sebring's hitting streak was squashed.
Okeechobee came in from the field knowing that it was time to put the bat to the ball. Almost the entire line-up saw a plate appearance during the fourth inning. Thor Harden started the inning by taking a hit for the team and Jacalob Akins entered at first as a speed-up runner. Timmy Farrell pulled a single up the right side, advancing Akins. Dean Radebaugh placed a perfectly batted bunt advancing Akins and Farrell and giving himself a single. Jacalob Akins and his quick feet scored on a wild pitch from Sebring's Daniel Ware. Tyler Finney ripped a ball past Sebring's third baseman scoring Farrell. With Okeechobee having no outs at this point, Sebring felt it necessary to make a pitching change and Seth Abeln came to the mound in attempt to end the inning. Justin Morgan watched one ball and then slammed a ball through the middle for a double. Radebaugh scored but Tyler Finney was thrown out heading for home - out #1. With Justin Morgan awaiting his turn to cross the plate, Mark Weir slammed a high ball out to centerfield. The sacrifice fly allowed Morgan to advance to third with two outs now on the board. Noah Wilcox placed the ball just over the shortstop for a single bringing in Morgan and earning himself a single. Noah's running skills tested Taylor Townsend but he arrived safely at second with a perfect photo-op play. Will Jackson stepped up to the plate in the mindset that he was going to keep this streak rolling. He took several hard cuts at the ball, fouling one off and then ripped a beautiful hit out to centerfield. Unfortunately Sebring's fielder gave it everything he could and made the catch. Sebring's at bat was short but sweet (for Okeechobee, anyway). Two easy plays and a strike out delivered by Mark Weir put them back into the field in three batters. The score at the end of inning number five was Sebring two to Okeechobee four.
Okeechobee's hopes of having inning six roll through the batting order like five were squelched. Although Thor Harden was able to earn a walk, Jacalob Akins (speed-up runner) was caught when Timmy Farrell hit a ground ball to second for a single. A strike out and easy play ended the inning. Although Mark Weir had pitched five innings, he showed no signs of easing up in the sixth. He started off the inning with two strike outs (one swinging and one looking). Jonathon Knight hit a ball just past the shortstop for a single but was left stranded when Buddy Mays hit a grounder to shortstop that was fielded by Tyler Finney for an easy throw to first, ending the inning. At the end of inning six the score remained Sebring two - Okeechobee four.
Okeechobee opened the seventh inning at the top of the order. Tyler Finney started out, battling hard at the plate with multiple foul balls. He finally got a hold of the ball and sent it sailing to right field but unfortunately their fielder was there as well. Justin Morgan hit a beautiful shot up through the middle and David Skinner entered as a courtesy runner. Mark Weir punched a small but beneficial hit to toward the pitcher that earned him a single. Noah Wilcox slammed a ball directly at the shortstop who opted for the play at second. Will Jackson ended the inning with a pop fly to short. Inning seven was one of the longest bouts that Sebring had at the plate. Six batters made an appearance. Taylor Townsend received a base on balls and Daniel Ware flew out to left field. Lyno Tijerina received a walk and Gunner Westergom executed a beautiful bunt to load the bases up. Seth Abeln hit a solid hit to centerfield, bringing in Townsend but it was easily fielded by Noah Wilcox. Knowing that we needed to stop Sebring in their tracks, Mark Weir dug down deep and struck out their last better, Alex Griffin.
Final score - Okeechobee 4 - Sebring 3
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment