Wes Haley hits a dribbler and beats the throw to first for an infield hit to start a Viking rally in the bottom of the first. Haley had two hits in the Community win. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By RICKEY CLARDY
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — The Community Vikings took an early lead before falling behind to the Richland Raiders, then the Vikings came back to take the lead for good and kept the Raiders from scoring the tying run as Community finished with a 6-5 win in a baseball contest Tuesday night.
After Viking starter Logan Reed retired the Raiders in order in the top of the first, the Community bats came alive in the bottom of the inning as the Vikings batted around and used five hits to score four runs.
Wes Haley led off with a single and Kaleb Maillet doubled to put two runners in scoring position.
With one out, Dylan Markum doubled, scoring one run and giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
A walk to Elijah Westbrooks loaded the bases and brought Logan Cawthon to the plate.
Cawthon promptly delivered a 2-run single to up the Viking lead to 3-0. Community wasn’t through as Reed helped his own cause with an RBI-single to give the Vikings a 4-0 advantage.
The Raiders used a walk, wild pitch, and a run-scoring single in the top of the second to cut the Viking lead to 4-1.
The score remained 4-1 until the top of the fourth when the Raiders batted around to score four runs and take a 5-4 lead.
Richland had two hits, but a hit batsman, two walks and two Viking errors aided the Raiders as two of the four runs were unearned.
The Vikings got off the deck in the bottom of the fourth.
Isaiah Beech drove a 3-1 pitch to the left-center gap for a double to put the tying run on base.
A walk to Ty Wood coupled with a wild pitch and stolen base put two runners in scoring position with no outs.
Haley singled to score one run and tie the game at 5-5.
After a walk to Case Davis, Markum singled in what turned out to be the game-winning RBI as Community went up 6-5.
Though no runs were scored the rest of the game, there were plenty of scoring opportunities for both teams.
The Raiders put two runners on base with one out in the top of the fifth inning, but Reed got out of the jam and finished with a strikeout to quench the Richland rally.
The Vikings missed a golden opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom of the inning.
Another Beech double put two runners in scoring position with one out, but Community could not find pay dirt.
After Reed gave way to Westbrooks on the mound for the Vikings in the top of the sixth, a walk and passed ball put the tying run in scoring position for the Raiders.
A Viking error advanced the Richland runner to third, but the runner tried to score and was thrown out at the plate as Community held on to its lead.
It was another scare for the Vikings in the seventh as the Raiders put two runners on base with two outs. Maillet took over on the hill for the Vikings and put the fire out with a game-ending strikeout as Community took the hard-fought win.
Reed was the winner pitcher for the Vikings with Maillet getting the 1-out save.
The Vikings had nine hits with Haley, Markum, and Beech each accounting for two safeties.
Community will play host to Huntland on Thursday.
Richlan 010 400 0 — 5 6 0
Community 400 200 x — 6 9 2
Community: Wes Haley 2-for-4, Kaleb Maillet 1-for-4, Dylan Markum 2-for-4, Logan Cawthon 1-for-3, Logan Reed 1-for-2, Isaiah Beech 2-for-3.
WP: Reed.
SV: Maillet.
