A week ago the Heritage Patriots were walking off the field at Adams Central in the dark with a game tied 2-2 after 13 innings.
Now, a week later, the Patriots are suddenly 13-5 after dropping a fourth game in seven days with an 11-10 loss in Portland Thursday night to Jay County.
The contingent of Patriots entered the seventh inning of the exciting game with the score tied 7-7 and after Heritage scored thrice in the top of the inning, Jay County walked it off with four in their half.
The winning run came after the Heritage coaching staff was forced to intentionally walk a batter to load the bases with one out to put the force play on. Jay County’s Leighton Brown then hit the ball in the air deep enough to center field that Garrett Bennett could tag up and beat the throw and end the ballgame.
Heritage virtually never led in the game, outside of the very first half inning.
Three Heritage errors spoiled a standout night for Cam Rauner, who racked up 13 strikeouts against no walks against his opponents. Rauner was removed from the game and the ball was handed to Landon Lybarger in the final inning, but the task for Lybarger was too great with runners on base. Rauner was the losing pitcher, allowing the eventual winning run to reach base before he was relieved.
Jay County went with an alternative strategy on the mound, throwing three different hurlers for 2+ innings each. Austin Myers was credited with the victory as the final Patriot pitcher to throw.
The proceedings in the ACAC Thursday night mean that the Bluffton Tigers have clinched the conference title.
Beau Stoppenhagen singled and homered in the game for Heritage, hitting the fourth pitch of the contest over the center field fence.
Cam Rauner was 3-for-4 and knocked in four runs to help his own cause.
The Heritage Patriots will play their fourth away game this week at Manchester Friday night as they attempt to get some momentum back in the season’s final two weeks.
About the Author
