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ATKINSON – Randolph’s Senior Legion baseball team lost a close contest at Atkinson last week.
The game started close and finished close with a final score of Atkinson 14, Randolph 13.
The score after the second inning was 4-2 in Atkinson’s favor. It looked as if Atkinson was going to pull away as it scored two runs in the bottom of the third, making the score 6-2 in its favor. But Randolph found the bats in the fourth inning, scoring three runs to make it 6-5 going into the fifth inning.
Both teams scored four in the fifth frame. Atkinson pulled ahead 13-12 after a three-run bottom of the sixth to Randolph’s two runs in the top of that inning. With the game on the line, Randolph tallied two runs in the top of the seventh to force Atkinson to bat again.
Atkinson was down to two outs and two strikes when a hard-hit line drive fell in left field, scoring the runner from third base and giving Atkinson the win.
Kaleb Gardner had a solid start for Randolph as he had 93 pitches in four innings and recorded six strikeouts.
The bats were alive for Randolph as it totaled 14 hits on the day and scored 13 runs.
Even though it was a tough loss, the team is gaining confidence, said third baseman Joe Miller.
“As a team, we have more confidence going up to the plate and in our pitchers on the mound,” he said. “Throughout the season, we have always had the ability to make plays and put the ball in the field. Now that we have shown we can score, the confidence is growing faster and faster after every game.”
Miller finished the Atkinson game with the only double on the team. Randolph looks forward to coming home after three straight away games, welcoming O’Neill-Neligh, who it run-ruled earlier in the season.
Batting— M Gubbels,13,R,BB,K,2SB;I Salmon,1-4,BB,2K;C Beal,2-4,2R,RBI,BB,K,4SB;J Miller,1-4,2K,2B;G Wortman,0-0,BB,R;S Backer,2-3,2R,RBI,BB,2SB;T Korth,1-3,2R,2BB,K,3SB;C Korth,4-5,2R,RBI;J Calder,13,2R,RBI,BB,2K,SB;G Wortman,12,R,2RBI,BB,SB.
Pitching—K Gardner,4IP,6H,6R,6ER,5BB,6K;J Calder,2IP,8H,7R,7ER,4BB,3K,1HR ;D Winkelbauer,.2,2H,R,ER,BB,K.
The Seniors also saw action against Twin River last week, losing 15-2 in a five-inning, run-rule loss.
Randolph was looking for its third win of the season, but did not get the start it was hoping for.
The Twin River team went up on Randolph 8-0 after two innings of play and was in control the whole game.
Randolph tried to get a spark in the top of the fourth as it cut the game to 8-2 after a hit from Tom Korth scored a runner from second.
Unfortunately for Randolph, Twin River found the bats, too, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, which ultimately sealed the game.
Jacob Calder for Randolph was a bright spot for pitching. He only pitched one inning, but it was the only scoreless inning for Twin River. He also tallied a strikeout along the way.
Hitting for Randolph wasn’t a problem, but scoring the runners was, as it had seven hits, but only two runs.
Tom Korth was the only player to drive in a run for Randolph, which was a double.
Batting-M Gubbels,0-3,K;S Backer,0-3,K;C Beal,2-3,K,SB;J Miller,0-2,BB,K;C Korth,1-2,R;I Salmon,2-2,R,2B;T Korth,12,RBI,2B,K;J Calder,0-1,BB,K;G Wortman,1-2.
Pitching- C Korth,2IP,6H,8R,7ER,3BB,2K;J Calder,1IP,BB,K;G Wortman,.1IP,4H,7R,7ER,3BB,K;J Miller,.2IP,2BB.
