BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity baseball team used a couple of big innings, including one that turned on a controversial play, to blow out Bennett, 13-2, at home on Monday.
With the scored tied at 1-1 in the second inning, the Seahawks had runners on first and second with no outs and Ryan Bennett at the plate. Bennett hit a high popup that dropped between the pitcher and the first baseman. The Seahawk runners held, thinking the ball was going to caught and the Clipper first baseman fired to second to get a force out and then the Clippers got the other runner trying to move up to third.
However, what appeared to be an odd double play turned in Decatur’s favor when the umpires conferred and determined the infield fly rule should apply. As a result, the batter was called out and the Seahawk runners returned to second and third.
Andrew Borradaile then grounded out to first, allowing the runner to score from third to make it 2-1. Nick Bennett then singled up the middle to score another run and a 3-1 lead. Zach Adams made it 4-1 with a base hit to left and the ball got passed the Bennett left fielder and rolled all the way to the fence, allowing Adams to reach third. Justin Meekins drew a walk and moved up to second on a steal, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Chase Coursey then hit a line drive up the middle that struck the pitcher, who recovered to throw to first, but Coursey was safe and a run scored from third to make it 5-1.
In the home half of the third, Donahue singled to drive in a run and extend the lead to 6-1. Ryan Bennett then hit a long home run to deep left center to make it 8-1. With bases now empty, Decatur continued to apply the pressure. Borradaile walked, Nick Bennett singled and Meekins was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Hickman then hit a sharp liner to left for standup triple that cleared the bases and extended the Decatur lead to 12-1.