A pair of sixth-inning runs from Stokes Post 290 proved to be the difference in a May 31 game against Foothills-West Post 123.
Stokes never trailed in Friday’s game, but the score was tied up twice at 2-2 and 3-3.
Post 290 loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth inning, then used a fielder’s choice to score the go-ahead run. The visitors cemented their 5-3 victory by scoring on a pick-off play later in the inning.
Foothills out-hit Stokes 7-6, but gave up eight bases on balls to Stokes’ two.
Will Pardue accounted for three of Post 123’s hits and one of the team’s RBIs. Four Foothills players recorded one hit each: Davin Weatherford, Landon Johnson, Ian Hooker and Bryson Grey. Pardue, Weatherford and Johnson each had one RBI.
Kahle Lickfeld led Stokes with two hits, followed by four teammates with one hit each: Grady Hall, Tyler Hamm, Levi Bailey and Landon Maser. Maser led his team with two RBIs, while Lickfeld and Christopher Bennett each had one.
Hamm recorded Stokes’ first hit of the night, a line drive to center field in the top of the first inning, but was left on base after a strikeout. Post 290 then loaded the bases in the top of the second inning after a single from Bailey and back-to-back bases on balls.
Stokes put runners on all three bags with just one out on the board. Hooker caught a fly ball in center field for out No. 2, then Foothills catcher Weatherford threw to Grey at first to pick off a runner.
Stokes once again loaded the bases in the third inning, and was able to cause some damage this time. Lickfeld singled, then both Hamm and Carter Spainhour were walked. Foothills’ Jax Whitaker threw a strikeout for the inning’s second out, then Maser scored two runs with a grounder to left field.
Post 123 countered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Foothills’ first two batters got out before Pardue singled. Weatherford doubled to score Pardue, then Johnson doubled to score Weatherford’s courtesy runner, Jayle Bryant.
Hall singled in the top of the fourth to keep Stokes’ momentum alive. A fielding error put Bennett on first and moved Hall to second, then a line drive to left field scored Bennett to put the visitors up one run.
Foothills went three up three down in the bottom of the fourth, but finally evened things back in the fifth. Grey doubled to begin the inning, then Pardue singled to bring in the team’s third run.
Stokes loaded the bases for the third time Friday night in the sixth inning, this time doing so with no outs. Bentley Joyce scored on a fielder’s choice to put Post 290 up 4-3, then a pick-off attempt at first led to Hall scoring Stokes’ fifth and final run.
The May 31 meeting at Mount Airy High School was the second of three games between Foothills and Stokes. Stokes won the first meeting 13-3 on May 29, then wrapped up the series with an 11-1 win on June 3.
Pitching
Stokes Post 290
Carter Spainhour — 5 IP, 5K, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 6H, 3R
Grady Hall — 2 IP, 2K, 2 BB, 0 HBP, 1H, 0R
Foothills (West) Post 123
Jax Whitaker — 4 IP, 3K, 4 BB, 0 HBP, 5H, 3R
Will Pardue — 3 IP, 5K, 4 BB, 0 HBP, 0H, 2R
Scoring
Stokes — 0, 0, 2, 1, 0, 2, 0 — 5
Foothills — 0, 0, 2, 0, 1, 0, 0 — 3
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