The Heritage Patriots got a glimpse of how difficult their road to a sectional title next week will be when they traveled to Garrett, the site of the 3A tournament, to take on the Railroaders. Although they led early and Noah Redmon homered, it was a six-run sixth inning by the home team that led Garrett to a 9-8 victory.
The Patriots are on the opposite side of the bracket from the Railroaders, but Wednesday’s ballgame was further proof that the 3A Garrett sectional is likely to be one of the most competitive in the state.
Heritage scored three times in the first with RBIs from Redmon and Dalton White, giving starter Brady Richman plenty of support before he ever stepped onto the mound. Through three innings, the right hander allowed just one hit and struck out three.
Garrett jumped on the board, however, in the fourth. It began with a hit batsmen, a single and a walk to load the bases with none out. Camren Ruble doubled in the team’s first run, but Caleb Abbott gunned down the second runner at home plate for the first out of the inning.
Richman faced one more batter thereafter, allowing a two-run single and he was then replaced by Morgan Andrews, who retired two of the next three batters via strikeout to get out of the inning.
Redmon hit his home run in the next half inning and the Patriots led 5-3 heading into the sixth.
Garrett tagged Andrews for three hits and drew two walks without making an out, forcing coach Lerhman to make a pitching change. Cameron Rauner entered the game and the first three batters he faced all drove in runs. The righty got Ruble on a strikeout to get out of the inning, but the Patriots trailed by four with three outs left.
Redmon and Jackson Bearman both doubled in the seventh and Heritage loaded the bases with a pair of two-out walks.
Mason Abbott hit a double that could have tied the game, but Rauner stayed at third base as the tying run. Garrett finished off the win by getting Richman to ground out to first.
Redmon finished 3 for 4, while Bearman and White each had two hits.
The team is now 14-6 with a home game against Canterbury Friday and a doubleheader at Wayne Saturday before facing Angola Thursday in the sectional opener.