By Joshua Yoder
LEWISTOWN – Foxpro gave it everything they had but ultimately fell short as the Predators were defeated by the Spring Creek Shockers in eight innings of play by the final score of 12-8 in CCBL action over at Mifflin County High School on Thursday.
Foxpro was down every step of the way especially after two innings of play where Spring Creek hammered home five runs. Three of those runs came in the form of a three run home run in the top half of the second inning from Shockers’ starting pitcher Tyler Lalli that was launched over the left field fence.
But the Predators refused to allow the Shockers to get too far ahead and begin to slowly chip away at the Spring Creek lead but never enough to overtake the lead.
That was until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Foxpro bats finally start swinging. Although it appeared as though it wasn’t going to happen as the Predators were going to be held without a run as they were faced with two outs in the frame. But Connor Cherry got it started with an RBI single in the infield which scored Josh Rosefsky to make it 7-4.
Then it was Evan Pupo’s turn at the plate and it didn’t take long for him to start swinging as he tanked a three run home run of his own on the first pitch to even the game at seven apiece.
But then in extra innings, it became all Spring Creek as the Shockers dropped five runs in the frame. Alex Evans blasted a double to left center field scoring both Chad Battista and Lalli. Jaron Conrad then reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Evans before the Shockers added two more runs off an Foxpro error to make it a 12-7 lead.
The Predators tacked on a run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Dan Brundage grounded out to third base but managed to bring home Rosefsky.
Rosefsky, Cherry and Ethan Eichhorn each had two hits in the game as well as an RBI from all three batters.
For Spring Creek, they were led by Lalli who went 2-for-4 at the plate with a three run home run and a double and scored two runs. In fact, all but two Shockers had at least a hit in the game.
Eichhorn got the start for the Predators and pitched four and a third innings with two strikeouts and four walks. Cherry took over and went the next two and two-thirds innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Seth Bowersox took the loss for Foxpro and pitched an inning with two strikeouts and three walks.
The Shockers were led on the mound by Lalli who nearly went the distance going six innings and collected eight strikeouts and four walks. Tony Ryder pitched the final two innings for Spring Creek and got the win in relief.
Foxpro will travel to face the Blanchard Bees today and then will return home on Sunday for a Father’s Day double header as the Predators will host the Spike Island Pirates.
Meanwhile Spring Creek will travel on Sunday as well as the Shockers will do battle with the Howard Hawks.