Astro Falcons rally past Creekside

June 29, 2019 at 12:05a.m.

Connor Miller’s single in top of seventh breaks tie

STRUTHERS

The Astro Falcons and Creekside Fitness have been the strongest teams in Class B league all summer.

They showed why during opening round action Friday at the Bob Cene Memorial Baseball Tournament.

Connor Miller’s two-run single with two outs in the top of the seventh inning snapped a tie and helped league-leading Astro Falcons to a 5-3 come-from behind-victory over Creekside Fitness at Bob Cene Park.

Earlier in the day, the Falcons began tournament play with a 6-3 win over league opponent EagleWear.

“The count went to 3-0 and I had the take sign on the next pitch,” Miller said. “I was thinking fastball the entire at bat, he [Cameron Kern] put it in my wheelhouse and I was able to connect.

“With today’s win, we control our own destiny in the league and that’s a great feeling,” Miller said. “We have the type of team that I feel can compete with anyone.”

The game boasted three ties and two lead changes with Falcons pitcher Logan Bell going the route, striking out nine and scattering five hits. He retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced and allowed just one hit over the final four frames.

“I really concentrated on tunneling my pitches so that they would all look the same,” Bell said. “I settled down after the first two innings and need to give credit to my defense for the many plays that they made today behind me.”

The Falcons (17-2) got on the board first in the opening inning when Josh Hoffman singled and raced home when Burke Camper followed with single for the early 1-0 advantage.

Creekside (15-5) took a 2-1 lead in the second inning on a run-scoring single by Nathan Stutz and RBI double by John Herold.

Josh Hoffman’s single with two away plated Miller in the third inning as the Falcons knotted the game at 2-2.

Creekside regained the lead in their half of the frame when Grant Metzger’s two-out triple scored B.J. Arnold with the go-ahead run.

Hoffman, who had two singles, scored a run and had two RBIs, tied the game a second time when his sacrifice fly sent Chase Franken.

“Even when we’re behind, we never feel like we are out of a game,” Hoffman said. “There has never been a situation this year when we felt like we couldn’t get it done.”

Lucas Gulczynski led off the seventh by walking, Bryce Warwick followed with a single and after Ricky Havrilla’s sacrifice bunt, Gulczynski and Warwick moved into scoring position.

Bell walked to load the bases and after Brayden Beck struck out, Miller delivered the game-winning hit.

“This was a fun, exciting baseball game,” Astros manager Don Pletcher said. “Logan is a bulldog on the mound and he always wants the ball.

“He threw 80 pitches through six innings, looked at me in the seventh inning and said I want the ball.

“I said it the other day and I’ll repeat it. Every team that wants to win needs a Connor Miller and he showed you why again today.”

Grant Metzger tripled and drove in a run while John Herold doubled and scored once for Creekside.