Sunday, April 18, 2021

Bluejay Baseball Falls Short in Platte Valley Tilt

Northeast Nodaway struggled to score runs against Platte Valley last Tuesday, falling behind 3-1 in the second. They were done in by seven called third strikeouts and three runners erased on the basepaths. Out of their seven called third strikes, six of them were with runners on base. They fought back to tie it at 3-3, only for them to allow two in the seventh following a costly error as they fell 5-3.

In the top of the first with one out, Trevor McQueen walked and Memphis Bliley doubled to put runners on second and third. Wyatt Miller grounded out to put Platte Valley up 1-0. But Northeast tied it when Ben Boswell reached on a bunt single to start the Bluejay first and slid past the tag to steal second. Colton Swalley walked and Dylan McIntyre singled to put runners on first and third and tie it at 1-1. McIntyre stole second, but then Chase Atkins was called out on strikes and Auston Pride hit a pop fly into shallow right field that was caught. Swalley tried to score on the play, but was gunned down to keep the game tied at 1-1.

Platte Valley promptly took advantage in the second as Trey Holtman singled to start the inning and Alex Mattison homered. Northeast couldn’t answer in their half as Lane Dack walked. Brayden Munns was called out on strikes, but Zach Pride reached on a walk when a 3-2 pitch was just outside. Grant McIntyre struck out and Ben Boswell hit an apparent run-scoring single. The ball got away from left fielder Trey Holtman, but he recovered and gunned down Dack at the plate to deny Northeast.

Northeast prevented further damage in the third when pitcher Dylan McIntyre snagged Memphis Bliley’s screamer and center fielder Zach Pride made a diving catch on Wyatt Miller’s sinking liner that looked like extra bases.

Colton Swalley brought the Bluejays within one in their half of the third with a sinking line drive that went over the left field fence. Northeast loaded up the bases with one out, but then consecutive called third strikes killed that rally and kept Platte Valley in front 3-2. Northeast got runners on second and third with two outs in the fourth, but yet another called third strike killed that rally. 

Platte Valley tried to add to their lead in the fifth, as Alex Mattson’s grounder just beat Ben Boswell. With Matt Jermain batting, Dylan McIntyre’s pitch got away, but not far enough and catcher Colton Swalley gunned down Mattson for the first out. That loomed up strongly as Jermain subsequently reached on an error. Trevor McQueen flied out to Zach Pride in center. Memphis Bliley walked, but Wyatt Miller struck out.

With one out in the fifth, Lane Dack and Brayden Munns walked. Zach Pride hit an apparent single to center, but Brycen Kennard (running for Munns) was gunned down on a force play at second from center field. Grant McIntyre and Ben Boswell walked on consecutive 3-2 pitches to force in a run and tie it at 3-3. 

Platte Valley tried to regain the lead in the sixth and Trevor Weir reached safely when he hit a squib in the first and catcher Colton Swalley’s throw was in the dirt. Brandon McQueen forced Weir at second and Trey Holtman struck out. But Lane Acklin singled to keep the game going and put runners on first and second after Lane Dack replaced McIntyre as pitcher, and McIntyre went to center field. Alex Mattson hit an apparent tiebreaking single, but then Dylan McIntyre gunned down Acklin at the plate to keep the game tied at 3-3.

Matt Jermain singled to left and then a costly error happened when Trevor McQueen’s pop fly dropped untouched behind the mound and everybody was safe. Memphis Bliley struck out, but then Wyatt Miller singled home Jermain and advanced on the unsuccessful throw home. Trevor Weir singled home McQueen, but a perfect relay from left fielder Chase Atkins to Grant McIntyre at third to Colton Swalley at the plate gunned down Wyatt Miller and kept the score at 5-3. But Northeast went down in order in the seventh.


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