GARNETT — A late rally spelled doom Monday for Crest High’s Lancers.
Host Anderson County erased a 9-4 deficit by scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth to storm from behind and defeat the Lancers, 10-9, in Game 1 of their doubleheader.
The nightcap didn’t have the same kind of drama, but Crest still could not come away with the victory, falling 10-7.
The Lancers started out like gangbusters, erupting for four runs in both the first and second innings. Kade Nilges and Drake Weir both had two-run doubles for a 4-0 lead.
Logan Kistner drove in a run in the second inning before Ryan Golden’s three-run blast pushed Crest ahead, 8-3.
Lancer pitchers Rogan Weir and Jerry Rodriguez kept things in check from there, and things looked even rosier when Jerry Rodriguez doubled to lead off the sixth and scored on Henry White’s sacrifice fly, pushing Crest’s lead to six.
But Anderson County found its groove in its half of the sixth.
Wyatt King’s two-run single proved to be the decisive blow, pushing the Bulldogs ahead, 10-9.
The Lancers put two runners on base courtesy of a hit-by-pitch and an error, but a strikeout ended the game with runners on first and second.
The Lancers racked up 10 hits on offense. Golden led the way with a single and home run. Drake Weir and Rodriguez both singled and doubled. Rogan Weir had a pair of singles. Nilges chopped in with a double. White added a single.
Rogan Weir struck out five and allowed four hits over 3.2 innings. Rodriguez allowed four hits with four strikeouts over 1.2 innings. Nilges also pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit.
LIKE the opener, Crest started out quickly in the nightcap.
The Lancers loaded the bases with one out before Nilges drove in a run with a ground ball. Drake Weir followed with a 2-run single to push Crest ahead, 3-0.
But three walks triggered a two-out, three-run rally, allowing Anderson County to take a 4-3 lead after two innings.
The lead swelled to 6-3 before Kistner singled in a run and Rogan Weir had a run-scoring ground ball to pull Crest back to within a run in the top of the fourth.
