Steers open district with extra-inning win

The Steers and Bulldogs received the Major League Baseball experience Tuesday night at the Graham High School baseball field. Rather than the customary seven-inning high school baseball game, the two teams needed nine innings to settle the outcome. The Steers completed a comeback to win 9-8 after a walk-off single by Parker Johnson.

Defensively the Steers struggled early and allowed the Bulldogs to lead by as much as 6-2 in the fifth inning. The lead started in the top of the third inning, thanks in part to three defensive errors committed by the Steers over a span of back-to-back at-bats. It started with a pickoff attempt at second base by pitcher Corey Ballew. He overthrew second base, allowing Tyler Fortin to advance to third base. He scored after an error at shortstop allowing Caden Blanton on base. He scored on another failed pick-off attempt that led to a pickle between first and second base.

Blanton reached base again in the fifth inning on a centerfield error. Fortin and Bladen Biner scored to increase the Bulldogs’ lead to 5-2. Blanton eventually scored on a sacrifice fly for a 6-2 lead.

For the rest of the story, see the March 27 edition of The Graham Leader.