Martin Oil caught Steel Connections with a five-run second inning to take a 5-2 lead, and Steel Connections took the remainder if the ballgame catching up. When the George B. Kelley Federation team from Asheville finally tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, Martin Oil broke their hearts with an extra-inning score to take an 11-10 triumph.
After Martin Oil opened the inning with a booming double to put a runner on second, they then manufactured the winning run on two sacrifices. Mike Albright, who enjoyed a perfect day at the plate with three hits, and pair of walks, opened the eighth inning by belting a double. A beautiful sacrifice bunt was laid down by Jared Coho which moved Albright over to third base. Then, Nate Plummer drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Martin Oil reliever Nate Gray, who blew a save opportunity an inning before, for the second straight game, then retired Steel Connections one-two-three, on a pair of ground balls to Plummer at first base, and then froze the final batter on a called third strike, to earn the win.
After Steel Connections had scored two runs in the bottom of the first off two walks, a hits batsman and two errors, and only one actual base hit, Martin Oil came back to bat around for the first of two innings in the game to take a 5-2 advantage.
Albright walked, Justin Miller singled and Nate Plummer walked to load the bases with no one out. Alex Miller lined a single to score Albright, but was picked off first base for the first out of the frame. Trey Mock walked to reload the sacks. Justin Manning was hit by a pitch to force in Miller. Gray lined a double down the left field line to score Plummer, Jared Coho, courtesy running for Mock, and Manning and give Martin Oil a 5-2 lead.
Steel Connections scored single tallies in the third and fifth to narrow the Martin Oil lead to 5-4.
With Steel Connections breathing down their necks, Martin Oil scored four times in the sixth to push their advantage to 9-4.
Alex Miller lined a home run over the left field fence to lead off the inning. Mock walked. After the next two batters were retired, Chad Coho singled to center to score Mock. Adam Kovac singled and after a single by Albright advanced both runners a base, then Justin Miller singled to left to score Chad Coho and Kovac.
Not done yet, Steel Connections scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and three more in the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
Martin Oil countered the Connections’ sixth-inning scores with a single tally in the top of the seventh. Alex Miller was hit by a pitch, Mock singled to left and Manning walked to load the bases with none out. Gray plated A. Miller with a sac fly, before Steel Connections tied the game in the home half of the seventh.
“It was one more in a line of ugly wins, but it was a win,” said Martin Oil manager Ed Davis. “Give Jared Coho a lot of credit for the winning run. He laid down a perfect bunt that got the runner over to third. Without that, Plummer’s sac fly would just have been a fly ball out. Mike Albright had a nice day at the plate reaching five times, and Nate Gray, Chad Coho and Justin Miller and Alex Miller all had two hits. That was one of the best offensive efforts we have had all season. The pitching was all pretty good, by Trey Mock and Justin Miller and Nate Gray. We didn’t play very good defense behind them, only four of the 10 runs were earned, but we managed to pull this one out.”
Mock pitched the first three innings, giving up three runs, only one earned on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks, Justin Miller went the next three frames, allowing four runs, only two earned on two hits with four Ks and two walks, and Nate Gray pitched the final two innings, giving up three runs, just one earned on three hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
After playing seven games in seven days, Martin Oil (8-6) has Thursday to rest, then takes on Steel Connections again, at Stadium Drive field in Bellwood on Friday, the first of six more games in a period of five days, that includes the continuation of a suspended game against Locker Room as part of a doubleheader next Tuesday.
Martin Oil 11, Steel Connections 10, 8 inn.
Martin Oil – Ju. Manning, 2b-ss, 3-1-0; Gray, ss-p, 3-0-2; C. Coho, 3b, 5-1-2; Ja. Manning, c, 2-0-0; Kovac, rf, 2-1-1; Albright, cf-c, 3-2-3; Davis, cr, 0-0-0; J. Miller, rf-p, 4-1-2; Doyle, cr, 0-0-0; DeGennaro, cr, 0-0-0; J. Coho cr-2b, 0-1-0; Plummer, 1b, 3-1-0; A. Miller, 4-2-2; Mock, p-cf, 2-1-1. TOTALS 31-11-13.
Steel Connections – Smick, cf, 3-3-1; Marra, ss, 3-2-1; N. Pettenati, lf-p, 5-1-2; Nash, p-2b, 5-0-0; Kimberly, 1b, 2-1-1; Langer, 3b, 2-0-0; Jeffries, c-2b-p, 5-1-0; Link, rf-2b, 5-2-3; McCoy, 2b-lf, 1-0-0; Rickens, lf-rf, 3-0-0; A. Pettenati, ph, 1-0-0. TOTALS 35-10-8.
Martin Oil 050 004 11 11-13-8.
Steel Connections 201 013 30 10- 8-0.
2B: Gray, Albright.
3B: Kimberly.
HR: A. Miller.
RBI: Gray 4, J. Miller 2, A. Miller 2, Ju. Manning, C. Coho, Smick 2, Langer 2, Marra, N. Pettenati, Nash.
SO: Mock 2, J. Miller 4, Gray 2, Nash 2, Jeffries 2.
BB: Mock 2, J. Miller 2, Gray 1, Nash 3, N. Pettenati 2, Jeffries 1.
WP: Gray LP: Jeffries
