NEW PARIS — National Trail surrendered two runs in the top of the seventh inning Monday as the Madison Mohawks rallied to post 6-5 victory over the Blazers.
Trailing 5-4 the Mohawks got a lead off single in the top of the seventh by Grady Combs. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Carter Young. Landon Potter drew an intentional walk. Combs stole third and Potter stole second.
Combs scored on a passed ball and Connor Robertson hit a line drive double to left to drive in Potter as Madison took a 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh Trail lead off hitter Chase Ruebush got hit by a pitch but the next three batters went down in order as the Mohawks walked away with the one run victory. Madison improved to 1-0 while National Trail fell to 1-4.
The Blazers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Jamison Watts got hit by a pitch. Cooper Smith doubled to left with Watts scoring on an error by the left fielder. Smith got thrown out on the same play as he tried to reach third.
Madison tied it in the top of the third. Jadon Tucker reached first on a dropped third strike. Combs reached on a fielder’s choice with Tucker out at second. Young reached on a fielding error that enabled Combs to score. Young advanced to third on the same error.
The Mohawks took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on a single by Devn Lindsey and an RBI single to center by Caden Johnson.
Trail took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Andrew Hamm was awarded first for catcher’s interference and advanced to second on a single by Cooper Lee. Nick Brubaker came in to pinch run for Lee.
Gavin Vance got a bunt single to first with Hamm scoring on the throw to the plate with Brubaker advancing to third. Ruebush hit a fly out to center and Vance got doubled up off first base for a double play. Brubaker scored on the same play.
Madison regained the lead 4-3 in the top of the sixth. Tate Wood hit a lead off single to left with Aidan Grooms coming in to pinch run. Connor Robertson doubled to left with Grooms advancing to third. Johnson hit a one out double to left to score Grooms and Robertson.
The Blazers took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Leal made it all the way to second on an infield error and Braylon Coffey also reached on an error at third making it all the way to third base when the first baseman committed another error on the same play with Leal scoring.
Kellen Laird hit a ground out to shortstop to score Coffey.
Madison rallied in the top of the seventh to secure the victory.
Zane Sproat earned the victory for Madison. He didn’t allow a hit with two runs (none earned) with one strike out in one and one-third innings. Robertson started on the mound and surrendered four hits and three runs (one earned) over five and two-thirds innings, striking out seven with two walks.
Watts took the loss for Trail pitching six and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits with 10 strike outs and two walks.
Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or email [email protected].
