Lyon County and Union County each came away with a win after a pair of games Thursday night in Eddyville. The Lyons took the first contest 2-1, but fell to the Braves 5-4 in an extra-inning nightcap. The Lyons’ remain at .500, 8-8 on the year, while Union County sits at 9-13.
A Lyon error allowed Union County to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but the Lyons answered with 2 runs in their half of the frame for the final score. Senior Max Wadlington grounded-out to score junior Keaton Bridges, before junior Gabe Board reached on an error to allow junior Jake Kleuppel to cross the plate.
Lyon senior Christian Whalin pitched into the fourth inning for the win, yielding a run on four hits with a strikeout and a walk. Board pitched the fifth, allowing a hit and a walk. Wadlington drove-in a run, with Board, Kleuppel, senior Jack Walker, and junior Keaton Bridges each posting a hit.
Senior Josh Girten took the loss for the Braves, working 4.0 innings and giving-up 2 runs, 1 earned, on four hits with two strikeouts and four walks. Junior Coy Burns was 2-2 at the plate.
The second game would feature more offense, with both teams putting 2 on the board in their half of the opening inning. Wadlington came home on a passed ball for the Lyons’ first run, followed by an RBI single from Walker.
Union County opened-up a 2-run lead in the top of the third on an error and a bases-loaded walk. However, Lyon County freshman Travis Yancy parked the second pitch of the bottom of the inning over the right-field fence, cutting the Braves lead in half at 4-3.
In their last at-bat, both games were scheduled for 5 innings, the Lyons got the lead-off man on base when Wadlington was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt by 8th grader Gunnar Bingham moved Wadlington into scoring position, Board came through with a double to center to bring home the run and force extra innings.
Lyon County junior Dylan Capello, on in relief of Yancy since the fourth, got the first two outs of the sixth, while yielding a single in-between. Junior Brennen Jenkins singled, knocking-in the run to give the Braves a 5-4 lead. Needing at least a run, the Lyons went quietly in their half of the sixth to end the game.
Capello took the loss, allowing a run and four hits while striking-out four and walking one. Yancy worked the first 3.0 frames, surrendering 4 runs, 2 earned, on six hits with four strike-outs and four walks. Board had a couple of hits and an RBI, followed by Yancy and Walker with a hit and a run driven-in each. Wadlington and senior Brody Bridges each had a hit.
Union County junior Tristen Manahan went 3.0 innings for the win, allowing a run on a hit while striking-out seven and issuing two walks. Jenkins was 2-4 with 2 RBI.
The Lyons are scheduled to travel to Smithland on Friday, facing the Livingston Central Cardinals (10-5) for the third time this season. The Lyons took the first meeting 6-2 in All A play, but were blasted 13-1 when the teams played in Eddyville. The Cardinals are unbeaten in 5th District play at 3-0, with the Lyons standing at 3-3.
