YSE File Photo
Playing with heavy hearts following a tragic helicopter crash during a training exercise late Wednesday night, the Fort Campbell High School baseball team did its best to focus during a 16-6 loss Thursday at West Creek in Clarksville.
The Falcons, who were seeking their third straight win, actually jumped out to a substantial 4-0 lead in the first inning. Aidan Blaszkowski doubled home Ethan Egner before anyone was out to start the game. After Blaszkowski went on to score on a wild pitch, Thomas Roach and Darin Frederick both drew bases-loaded walks to put the host Coyotes in a four-run hole.
West Creek would quickly answer, though, scoring twice in the bottom of the first, three runs in both the second and the third, four more in the fourth, and three in the fifth to surge ahead. The Falcons did own a 6-5 lead after two innings of play, but WCHS took the advantage for good after Braden Canaan delivered a two-run single for a 7-6 Coyote lead in the third.
Blaszkowski and Adam Harrington led the FCHS offense with two runs apiece. Blaszkowski, Roach, and Frederick each had an RBI. The Falcons finished with two hits and committed seven errors. Jayden Swann (0-2) was tagged with the loss. He gave up four walks, seven hits, and 12 runs (six earned) in three innings pitched.
Fort Campbell (2-5) will return to Tennessee on Friday for a matchup with Whites Creek. Playing five games in six days, the Falcons return home April 3 to take on Clarksville (TN) Northwest.
