It was like a big-league game Thursday night as the Snider Panthers and Bellmont Braves needed nine innings to settle the contest, with the visitors scoring in the top of the ninth and holding on for a 1-0 non-conference victory.
Each team used three pitchers, with good defense preventing any runs being scored on either starter, despite plenty of baserunners in the opening innings.
Dan Selking, who went four innings for the Braves, got out of a couple of jams with a strikeout and a nice pick by third baseman Kaigan Lee. Selking was the victim of bad luck when he smoked a ball the opposite way with a runner on – right to the Snider first baseman, who snagged the catch above his head while stepping on first simultaneously.
The Bellmont infield got Selking out of another jam in the fourth, getting a force out at second. Bellmont put two on with two outs, but Pete Mohrman, the Snider starter, got a strikeout looking to end the inning.
Keaton Wilder came on in relief of Selking in the fifth and got all three outs with two runners on. Wilder pitched into the seventh and allowed just one hit.
Layne LeMaster threw the last three innings for the Braves and was the tough-luck loser. He led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk, but was out at second on the Bellmont bunt attempt.
Jonathon Deisler, who threw the final three innings for Snider, got his only two strikeouts of the night to end the threat and send the game to extra innings.
Gideon Snavely tripled to center with a man on in the ninth to knock in the game’s only run.
Beau Baker tried to start a one-out rally in the bottom of the ninth, but Deisler induced a game-ending double play.
Bellmont will play Peru on Saturday.
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