Hawks baseball loses at home to Tri-County, 9-2

SULLY — Baseball can be a tricky game. Often times, athleticism is taken out of the equation on a baseball diamond, and the game comes down to how well teams are able to rally and make adjustments. This could be a possible explanation for the tough season that the Hawks of Lynnville-Sully are having in 2013.

Although the school has had a terrific year on the track and the basketball court, that athleticism has not translated to success on the diamond. The Hawks came up short yet again in their 9-2 loss to the Tri-County Trojans on Tuesday afternoon.

Junior Daniel Zimmerman took the loss for the Hawks. He pitched the first four innings, giving up four of the nine Trojan runs and picking up two strikeouts.

The Hawks surrendered three runs in the first inning, and found it difficult to recover. Although L-S answered back with a run in the bottom of the first, they wasted a big opportunity with the bases loaded and one out, not being able to come away with another run.

In the bottom of the second inning, senior Austin Newell singled to right field on a line drive. He got into scoring position after stealing second base, but was left stranded after a strikeout.

Virtually the same scenario presented itself in the bottom of the third inning. Baker Zegers walked on six pitches, and he stole second base, as well. Two strikeouts later, the inning ended with Zegers left standing on second base.

The top of the fifth was rough for the Hawks. Zimmerman allowed a line drive up the middle and followed that by hitting a batter. Newell came on to relieve Zimmerman. After a sacrifice bunt to get out number one, Newel gave up a two-run double to left field. He walked the next batter, but the team was saved on a tremendous double play turned by junior second baseman Payton Scandridge. The ball was laced up the middle, got through Newell’s legs, but it was scooped up by Scandridge, who stepped on second and fired a strike to first base for the out.

The Hawks bounced back a little in the bottom of the inning. Newell led off with a single to center. Senior Cale Van Wyk roped a triple out to left center field to score a run. Following two strikeouts, Van Wyke was caught napping on third base by the Trojan catcher and was tagged out to end the inning.

The Trojans added insurance runs in the top of the ninth. With junior Brandon Dunsbergen pitching, the Trojans scraped together another three runs only one hit, but two balks, a walk and an error fueled the Tri-County rally. The Hawks struck out swinging three times to finish off the game.