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Astro leads lightning-delayed game
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The Astro Falcons’ James Coates dives back to the base ahead of the tag by Creekside Fitness first baseman Hank Schlueter in the first inning during Game 2 of the Class B baseball championship Wednesday at Cene Park in Struthers. Astro led Creekside, 3-1, before the game was suspended by lightning in the bottom of the fifth.
— Class B Baseball Championship | Game 2 SEmD
By Joe Scalzo
Struthers
Creekside Fitness was hoping to keep the Astro Falcons from clinching their second straight championship on Wednesday night at Cene Park.
The lightning beat them to it.
Astro took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth before lightning postponed the game until today. Play will resume with two outs and Creekside’s Kyle Hickman on second base. If Creekside rallies to win, the deciding third game will follow.
Astro won Game 1 of the best-of-three series on Tuesday.
Astro struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Jim Coates’ leadoff walk and Dan Popio’s RBI single two outs later.
The Falcons made it 2-0 in the third when Adam Becker and Coates coaxed back-to-back walks to start the inning, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Brendan Cox and a sacrifice fly by Bubba Wells.
Creekside got one back in the fourth. Joe Killian reached on a fielder’s choice and scored from first when Astro third baseman Alex Bell overthrew first on Dan Ferguson’s grounder.
Astro made it 3-1 in the fifth when Coates walked — his third straight — then moved to third on Hickman’s errant pickoff throw. Cox’s infield single scored Coates. Astro then loaded the bases but couldn’t add to its lead.