By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
It was a lost weekend for the Calhoun Reds. At least it was for the Reds' bats as they dropped three games while scoring only three runs.
On Saturday the Reds dropped a 12-2 10-run-rule shortened game to Williamstown while on Sunday the Reds dropped two 10-run games to Fort Frye, Ohio, Red 11-1 and 10-0.
The second game of the Sunday doubleheader probably encapsulated the futility the Reds had at the plate as they twice left the bases loaded.
The first time came in the first inning when Fort Frye intentionally walked Seth Moore to load the bases. The strategy paid off as a strikeout ended the threat.
In the second inning the Reds loaded the bases again on two walks and a single with one out. A pair of strikeouts ended that threat.
Following that the Reds managed only one more base runner.
It wasn't that the Reds failed to hit the ball - they did. But when they did it usually was right at someone or a Fort Frye player made a great play defensively.
In the opening game Sunday the Cadets put up four in the first, four in the third and three in the fifth giving them an 11-0 lead and setting up a do-or-die situation for the Reds.
With two outs the Reds got on the board when Moore hammered a single to score Jerry Jones, who had a one-out single, and it appeared there was hope for a two-out comeback as the Reds had two one with Austin Hicks coming to bat. Hicks stung the ball on a line toward a lot of green grass in left center only to have the Fort Frye shortstop race into the outfield to make a diving catch of the ball to end the game.
Earlier Moore had led off the inning with a triple only to die at third as the Reds were unable to bring him in.
On Saturday the Reds hitting was a bit better but the fielding let them down as three key errors allowed Williamstown to keep big innings going. The killer was the fourth inning when Williamstown had already pushed across a pair of runs but had two outs. What should have been a routine fly out was muffed and the Yellowjackets pushed across five more runs before the carnage stopped.
The Reds go after that elusive first win Thursday evening when they travel to Waterford, Ohio, for a game.
Following that the Reds are scheduled for a doubleheader on May 12 at home against Parkersburg South White before closing the regular season May 18 at Ritchie County.
The weather-postponed doubleheader against Fort Frye Red has not been rescheduled.
Sunday First Game
Fort Frye 404 03 - 11 12 0
Calhoun Reds 000 01 - 1 5 3
Pitcher: Moore five strikeouts, three walks.
Leading hitters; Moore 2-3 (triple), run-batted-in; Jones 1-1 run; Jordan Basnett 1-2; Soney Wilson 1-3.
Second Game
Fort Frye 104 50 - 10 10 0
Calhoun Reds 000 01 - 1 2 7
Pitcher: Caden Hicks two strikeouts, one walk.
Leading hitters C. Hicks 1-2 (double); Moore 1-1
Saturday
Calhoun Reds 002 00 - 2 4 5
Williamstown 407 01 - 12 12 0
Pitchers: Wilson two strikeouts, one walk; C. Hicks four strikeouts, two walks
Leading hitters: Allen Matheny 2-3 (2 doubles), 2 runs-batted-in; Moore 1-1; A. Hicks 1-2.
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