The First Presbyterian Highlanders staged a comeback against David Emanuel Academy Wednesday afternoon upsetting the Eagles and taking an 8-7 victory.
Pitching his first game ever, Tyler Corey went the distance, allowing only 4 hits. He struck out 18 batters.
“A real heart stopper,” is how Highlander coach Joey Brown described the Highlanders comeback.
With a 0-1 lead in the first, the Eagles looked poised to score more. But Corey dashed their dreams by striking out three batters in a row.
“It was the first of several times that Corey would shut the engines down,” Brown said.
The Highlanders proved they were heavy hitters and very stealthy with Griffin Larkin and Carson Smith getting on and stealing bases. They both crossed the plate to give the Highlanders a one point lead (2-1).
The Eagles soared back with a run in the second and two in the third, taking a 4-2 lead.
Larkin brought the Highlanders within one with a hit and fine base running in the bottom of the third.
After the Eagles struck in the fourth for one, Kyle Hagler led off with a hit, stole his way to third, and score on a passed ball.
The Eagles added 2 more runs in the fifth, but the Highlanders refused to give up and put up 2 runs of their own on a triple by Larkin and fine base running by Smith.
The defense for the Highlanders kicked in and a double play ended any hopes the Eagles had of scoring. In their half of the sixth Highlander, Matthew Brown scored the tying run on a clutch hit by Hagler who later scored himself to put the Highlanders ahead 8-7.
The final inning was tense as the Eagles looked to rally. Corey struck out the first two batters but then walked the next two. Corey, faced with a full count and the tying run on third, struck out the Eagles number two hitter to seal the victory. Larkin led all batters with another 3-3 performance while Smith and Haggler both had hits for the Highlanders.
“Once again the guys refused to go away,” Brown said. “We continue to make progress, especially in our aggressiveness at the plate and on the bases.”
The Highlanders next opponent is the Pinewood Patriots who they will face at home today in a double-header beginning at 3:30.
Joey Brown contributed to this story
Pitching his first game ever, Tyler Corey went the distance, allowing only 4 hits. He struck out 18 batters.
“A real heart stopper,” is how Highlander coach Joey Brown described the Highlanders comeback.
With a 0-1 lead in the first, the Eagles looked poised to score more. But Corey dashed their dreams by striking out three batters in a row.
“It was the first of several times that Corey would shut the engines down,” Brown said.
The Highlanders proved they were heavy hitters and very stealthy with Griffin Larkin and Carson Smith getting on and stealing bases. They both crossed the plate to give the Highlanders a one point lead (2-1).
The Eagles soared back with a run in the second and two in the third, taking a 4-2 lead.
Larkin brought the Highlanders within one with a hit and fine base running in the bottom of the third.
After the Eagles struck in the fourth for one, Kyle Hagler led off with a hit, stole his way to third, and score on a passed ball.
The Eagles added 2 more runs in the fifth, but the Highlanders refused to give up and put up 2 runs of their own on a triple by Larkin and fine base running by Smith.
The defense for the Highlanders kicked in and a double play ended any hopes the Eagles had of scoring. In their half of the sixth Highlander, Matthew Brown scored the tying run on a clutch hit by Hagler who later scored himself to put the Highlanders ahead 8-7.
The final inning was tense as the Eagles looked to rally. Corey struck out the first two batters but then walked the next two. Corey, faced with a full count and the tying run on third, struck out the Eagles number two hitter to seal the victory. Larkin led all batters with another 3-3 performance while Smith and Haggler both had hits for the Highlanders.
“Once again the guys refused to go away,” Brown said. “We continue to make progress, especially in our aggressiveness at the plate and on the bases.”
The Highlanders next opponent is the Pinewood Patriots who they will face at home today in a double-header beginning at 3:30.
Joey Brown contributed to this story