Flyboys Go 1-2 Against Otterbots

DANVILLE — The Danville Otterbots got the better of the Greeneville Flyboys on Sunday in Danville, dropping the Flyboys in a 5-2 victory.

Greeneville was able to open the game with a run after Nick Arias scored on a wild pitch, but Danville tied the game on a Kaden Martin RBI double in the bottom of the third inning. Both team’s exchanged runs in the sixth, with Greeneville’s Brodie Johnston hitting a sacrifice fly and Danville’s Tanner McCammon hitting a solo home run to make it 2-2.

The Otterbots took the game in the seventh when Jackson Tyler hit a two-out walk-off three-run homer to drop the Flyboys to 24-15 on the year.

Tyler Jackson took the loss on the mound for Greeneville after coming in for the seventh inning and giving up the home run. In 2/3 of an inning, he gave up two hits, three runs, walked one and struck out one. Cody Carson drew the start, throwing four innings, giving up three hits, one run, walking four and striking out two. Cristian Bonilla pitched two innings of relief, allowing two hits, one run, walking one and striking out two.

At the plate, Tyler Inge and Brady Francisco both had two hits, while Rintaro Sasaki had a triple and Nicklas Williams and Paul Taylor had one single each.

SATURDAY’S GAME ONE Danville 11 Greeneville 1

DANVILLE — Greeneville traveled to Danville on Saturday for a doubleheader in which they split games with the Otterbots. There weren’t many things that went right for the Flyboys in game one, amassing just four hits to the Otterbots’ 14.

Danville took a 4-0 lead before the Flyboys got on the board in the bottom of the third. Inge hit an RBI single, driving in Jackson to make it 4-1.

The Otterbots added another three runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and two in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

At the plate, Inge, Mycah Jordan and Avery Collins all hit singles, and Jackson hit a triple.

Five Flyboys took the mound, with Ethan Davis (0-1) taking the loss. Davis threw four innings, allowed eight hits, seven runs (six earned), walked three and struck out four. The other four pitchers combined for three innings, six hits, four runs, (two earned), walked three and struck out two.

SATURDAY’S GAME TWO Greeneville 9 Danville 8

The second game in Greeneville’s doubleheader against Danville had much better offensive production from the Flyboys, especially in the opening inning.

Greeneville jumped ahead to a 3-0 lead, with the Flyboys’ newcomer Rintaro Sasaki highlighting the inning with a two-run homer to right field.

Francisco kicked off the game with a triple on a deep ball to right field and was brought home by a Arias single to left field. Then, with two outs, Sasaki sent the pitch flying over 430 feet, well past the right field wall to put the Flyboys ahead 3-0.

Greeneville added another run in the third when Jordan Lewis worked a walk with the bases loaded, 4-0, but the Otterbots put themselves on the board in the same inning, to make it 4-1.

The Flyboys extended their lead in the fourth and fifth innings, with two and three runs, respectively. However, the Otterbots closed the gap in the fifth, exploding for five runs to make it 9-6.

Danville added one run in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Flyboys were determined to keep their lead and split the doubleheader, improving to 24-14.

The Flyboys cracked off 12 hits, with Arias leading the way hitting 3-for-4 with three RBI. Johnston was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Jordan was 2-for-4. Lewis and Inge both had one hit and one RBI and Sasaki’s lone hit was his two-run homer. BJ Peart and Francisco both had one hit.

Ethan Phillips took the win on the mound, throwing 4 2/3 innings. He allowed seven hits, six runs, walked five and struck out three. Brady Frederick pitched 2 1/3 relief innings, giving up three hits, two runs (one earned), walking one and striking out three.

FRIDAY’S GAME Greeneville 4 Burlington 2

BURLINGTON — A quick start helped lift the Greeneville Flyboys over their host, Burlington, on Friday, scoring three runs in the opening inning.

After singles from Francisco and Arias and a walk from Johnston, the bases were loaded. Sasaki also worked a walk, pushing Francisco home, 1-0 Greeneville. Peart then hit a line drive to second that resulted in a force out, but scored Arias.

With two outs, Paul Taylor sent a pitch rocketing toward left field for an RBI single, putting the Flyboys ahead, 3-0.

The Sock Puppets were able to score early as well, in the form of a Noah Murray solo home run in the bottom of the first to make it 3-1.

After two scoreless innings, the Flyboys added another run in the fourth. Peart opened the inning with a single to right field and was brought home on a Mycah Jordan liner to center field, 4-1.

Burlington narrowed the gap with a run in the fifth, but was outshined by a Flyboys double play on the same hit. With runners on first and third, Burlington’s Bromley Thompson hit a grounder to Peart at shortstop, who tossed the ball to Arias at second for the force out, who then whipped the ball to Dylan Jackson at first for the double play.

Kyle Bade earned the win on the mound for Greeneville, pitching two hitless innings and striking out three. Hunter Sloop drew the start, throwing four innings, giving up five hits, two runs, walking six and striking out three.

Brock Toney ended the night on the mound, tossing three innings, giving up two hits, walking one and striking out seven.