For five innings of Tuesday’s 2nd Region All-A semifinal matchup between UHA and Crittenden County, it appeared the game would be defined by missed opportunities for the Blazers. However, a 6th-inning rally proved decisive in a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Rockets.
With a 15-2 win over the Blazers this season already under their belt, the Rockets jumped on top with a run in the top of the 1st. Maddox Carlson’s two-run home run stretched the lead to 3-0 in the top of the 4th, and Crittenden led 4-0 after Evan Belt’s RBI single.
After loading the bases and coming up empty in both the first and third innings, the Blazers finally broke through after doing it again in the 4th with runs on a passed ball and a Rocket error.
Trailing 5-2 with two outs in the bottom of the 6th, UHA again put three runners on with a single, an error, and a walk. A run came in on a wild pitch followed by back-to-back RBI singles from Eston Glover and John DeArmond to tie the game.
The winning run crossed the plate when Nic Luckey drew a bases-loaded walk, and Ian Tyler finished off his complete-game win with a scoreless 7th.
Tyler allowed two earned runs on five hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Tyler also joined DeArmond and Glover with two hits each for the Blazers.
Carlson worked the first four frames on the mound for Crittenden, yielding two unearned runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Jeremiah Foster took the loss, pitching the 5th and 6th and allowing four unearned runs on four hits with four walks and a strikeout.
UHA improved to 8-7 and advanced to the region title game against Lyon County in Tuesday’s nightcap.
Crittenden County sees a three-game winning run come to an end to stand at 7-6 ahead of a visit from Ballard Memorial on Thursday.
