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The Oak Hall baseball team lost to P.K. Yonge by a score of 3-2 on Friday. The Eagle’s four-game winning streak was snapped in their rematch with the Blue Wave.
After tying the game in the 6th inning off of a balk, the Eagles looked to walk off P.K. Yonge in the seventh. Oak Hall Pitcher Jack Steen was one out away from sending the tied game into the bottom of the seventh when P.K. Yonge third baseman Micah Gratto hit a fly ball to right field.
Oak Hall’s right fielder extended his glove to make a play, but the ball bounced off his glove and into foul territory. The speedy Grotto rounded the bases and raced for home. Grotto slid into home plate just as catcher Brody Beaupre reached to tag him out. It was a photo finish, but the umpire ruled the runner safe. Oak Hall could not produce offensively in the 7th inning and fell to P.K. Yonge by one run.
6th Inning Antics
Oak Hall started off the scoring in the 1st inning with an RBI single by senior Jack Kuzmicki. P.K. Yonge quickly responded by adding a run in the second and third innings. P.K. Yonge held onto its lead thanks to a dominant performance by pitcher Aidan Mansfield.
However, Mansfield got into trouble in the 6th inning. Oak Hall got players on third and second base with zero outs thanks to multiple singles and a wild throw by a P.K. Yonge outfielder. P.K. Yonge went to its bullpen, looking to relief pitcher Lane Sparkman to finish the job.
Sparkman controlled the first two batters he faced. He forced a groundout that did not advance the runners and struck out the second batter. Oak Hall was one out away from failing to tie up the game. However, Oak Hall was saved after the home plate umpire called a game-tying balk. This call was especially important, as the third batter grounded out. The game was going into the final inning knotted up 2-2.
Heartbreaking Finish
After six solid innings, Oak Hall starting pitcher Jack Steen looked to finish strong. He quickly retired the first two batters by groundout and strikeout. However, Micah Gratto hit an inside-the-park home run which once again gave P.K. Yonge the lead. Steen retired the next batter.
Lane Sparkman continued his dominance in the 7th inning and quickly retired Oak Hall’s last three batters. After a promising rally in the 6th inning, Oak Hall fell short of the victory and lost its rematch against P.K. Yonge. Oak Hall will look to bounce back against Mount Dora Christian Academy on Tuesday.
