Dragons lose close one to Spotswood, 11-10

by Jeremy Knight
Published: April 24, 2008

On Wednesday, April 16, the William Monroe varsity baseball team hosted the Spotswood Trailblazers in their last non-district game of the season. In the first meeting between the two teams, Spotswood won in a low scoring game 4-2.
Unlike their first meeting, this game would not be a low scoring one. Right out of the gate, the Trailblazers grabbed an early lead in the top of the first inning.
After the first two batters walked, Spotswood’s first baseman got them on the board first with a three-run homer off Monroe’s starting pitcher Bruce Shifflett.
Not to be outdone, however, Monroe answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the first. Following a lead off single by Jason Nave and a double by Shifflett, Danny Morris’ ground out brought home the first run. Shannon Estes would then single to right field, bringing home the second run.
After getting Spotswood in a three up, three down second inning, the Dragons added the tying run in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, Nave singled to right to tie the game at three.
A double play and an inning-ending ground out stopped the Dragons threat in the second inning.
On Wednesday, April 16, the William Monroe varsity baseball team hosted the Spotswood Trailblazers in their last non-district game of the season. In the first meeting between the two teams, Spotswood won in a low scoring game 4-2.
Unlike their first meeting, this game would not be a low scoring one. Right out of the gate, the Trailblazers grabbed an early lead in the top of the first inning.
After the first two batters walked, Spotswood’s first baseman got them on the board first with a three-run homer off Monroe’s starting pitcher Bruce Shifflett.
Not to be outdone, however, Monroe answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the first. Following a lead off single by Jason Nave and a double by Shifflett, Danny Morris’ ground out brought home the first run. Shannon Estes would then single to right field, bringing home the second run.
After getting Spotswood in a three up, three down second inning, the Dragons added the tying run in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, Nave singled to right to tie the game at three.
A double play and an inning-ending ground out stopped the Dragons threat in the second inning.
Spotswood would answer back and reclaim the lead in the top of the third. With two outs in the inning, Shifflett walked the next batter. The following steal attempt ended up a run, as the throw from catcher Josh Hickman found its way into center field.
In the bottom of the third, the Dragons once again had an answer—and then some—for the Spotswood run. Danny Morris led off their half of the third with a double-to-left. He would then score on a Spotswood throwing error.
With one out, Ryan Bouton would knock in the second run of the inning with a triple to right field. After a walk and a fielder’s choice made the second out, Nave got his second hit and rbi with a double to left.
At the end of the first three innings, the score was 6-4 in favor of the Dragons.
Spotswood would add another run in the top of the fourth.
But the Dragons would extend their lead in the bottom half.
With the bases loaded, Travis Watson singled to left field that scored Morris. Watson came into the game in the top of the fourth to pitch for Shifflett.
With two outs in the inning, Henry Morris doubled to centerfield, scoring the second run of the inning and pushing the Dragon lead to 8-4.
Following several quiet innings, Monroe added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Nave once again singled to right field and got his third rbi of the game.
Going into the seventh and final inning, it looked as if Monroe was going to cruise to a nice win.
But the Trailblazers had other ideas as they scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning. Dragon pitchers struggled to close out the game as they walked a combined six batters in just the seventh inning alone.
Monroe had a chance to tie the game once again in the bottom of the seventh. Following an rbi double by Eric Utz and a single by Bouton, the Dragons came up one hit short as Hickman lined out to right field that ended the game.
Spotswood pulled out an incredible comeback by a final score of 11-10.
The Dragons out-hit Spotswood as they tallied 17 hits to just 6. Leading Monroe was Nave with four hits and three rbi’s. Bouton added three hits and an rbi of his own. Danny Morris, Utz, and Estes all had two hits and an rbi each.
When asked about the loss, Coach Mark Arrington said, “This was a very tough loss for our team. We were two outs away from winning the game 9-5.”
He also stated, “We were down by three runs early, but we never gave up. We came back and we had the lead for most of the game. My team is a very resilient squad, they never give up no matter what.”
At press time on Tuesday, April 22, the Dragons were readying for an away game with Louisa.
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In the bottom of the third, the Dragons once again had an answer—and then some—for the Spotswood run. Danny Morris led off their half of the third with a double-to-left. He would then score on a Spotswood throwing error.
With one out, Ryan Bouton would knock in the second run of the inning with a triple to right field. After a walk and a fielder’s choice made the second out, Nave got his second hit and rbi with a double to left.
At the end of the first three innings, the score was 6-4 in favor of the Dragons.
Spotswood would add another run in the top of the fourth.
But the Dragons would extend their lead in the bottom half.
With the bases loaded, Travis Watson singled to left field that scored Morris. Watson came into the game in the top of the fourth to pitch for Shifflett.
With two outs in the inning, Henry Morris doubled to centerfield, scoring the second run of the inning and pushing the Dragon lead to 8-4.
Following several quiet innings, Monroe added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Nave once again singled to right field and got his third rbi of the game.
Going into the seventh and final inning, it looked as if Monroe was going to cruise to a nice win.
But the Trailblazers had other ideas as they scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning. Dragon pitchers struggled to close out the game as they walked a combined six batters in just the seventh inning alone.
Monroe had a chance to tie the game once again in the bottom of the seventh. Following an rbi double by Eric Utz and a single by Bouton, the Dragons came up one hit short as Hickman lined out to right field that ended the game.
Spotswood pulled out an incredible comeback by a final score of 11-10.
The Dragons out-hit Spotswood as they tallied 17 hits to just 6. Leading Monroe was Nave with four hits and three rbi’s. Bouton added three hits and an rbi of his own. Danny Morris, Utz, and Estes all had two hits and an rbi each.
When asked about the loss, Coach Mark Arrington said, “This was a very tough loss for our team. We were two outs away from winning the game 9-5.”
He also stated, “We were down by three runs early, but we never gave up. We came back and we had the lead for most of the game. My team is a very resilient squad, they never give up no matter what.”
At press time on Tuesday, April 22, the Dragons were readying for an away game with Louisa.