Dallton Dewey slides for second as Glide’s second baseman attempts the tag out. GINI DAVIS – THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
Just call ’em the ”comeback kids” – er, ”dawgs.” The Bulldogs battled back from a seven-point fifth-inning deficit to tie and scored again in the sixth to ”steal” their first league baseball win of the season, 11-10, from the visiting Glide Wildcats on April 18.
”It’s the first time we’ve beaten Glide that I can remember as a coach,” said Coach Chris Whitmore.
Down 3-10 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Creswell was still down five when Levi Bones, whose bat had thus far been silent, came up to the plate with bases loaded and smacked a double to left center that cleared the bases.
Suddenly, it was a ballgame – and the Dawgs were fired up to win it. ”Levi’s hit was a big momentum-changer,” Whitmore said.
Tied 10-10 in the bottom of the sixth, Bones came up to bat again, with runners on first and third and one out. Whitmore called timeout for a strategy huddle with Bones and the runner on third, Jack Callahan. Whitmore instructed Bones to hit a grounder to the right side, past the pitcher, and told Callahan to run on contact.
”Levi laid down a perfect grounder to first and scored Jack,” Whitmore said. ”We keep this list of reasons ‘Why We Win’ that we read before games – and one of them is: ‘Every player does his job and trusts his teammates to do theirs.’ Levi did his job, and Jack trusted him to do it, and we won because of it.”
Howard earned the save; replacing Miller for the seventh inning, he gave up two hits and struck out two to preserve Creswell’s 11-10 advantage.
”Dean asked for the ball that last inning. He was pumped up, ready to get the win – and Dylan was saying his arm was a little sore, so it was a no-brainer,” Whitmore said.
Cade Apo opened on the mound, giving up nine runs (seven earned) on five hits, striking out four and walking five in two and one-third innings. Callahan pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up one unearned run, one hit and three walks. Miller walked two in one inning.
Bones was 1-for-4 with a three-RBI double and a run. Dylan Miller was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs; Dawson Sharkey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run; Callahan was 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and two runs; and Dean Howard went 1-for-3 with a double and two runs.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs couldn’t sustain that winning momentum at Harrisburg, falling 3-13 in six innings on April 19.
With Howard pitching, Creswell led 3-1 at the bottom of the third. Howard gave up one earned run on three hits, struck out five and walked two in three and one-third innings.
”His slider was working really well, and he was able to locate his fastball really well until there in the third, when he was at 80 pitches,” Whitmore said.
Dallton Dewey pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits, striking out one, walking one and hitting three batters with the pitch. ”He was keeping them off-balance pretty well – but errors cost us,” Whitmore said.
Eagles hits and Bulldog errors combined for two back-to-back, five-run innings for Harrisburg in the fourth and fifth.
Sharkey pitched the sixth, giving up the game-winning run.
Miller went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run; Apo went 2-for-3 and scored; Callahan was 1-for-3 and scored and Howard had an RBI.
”We’ve lost to Harrisburg twice at their place, but we’ll get another crack at them when they come here,” Whitmore said.
