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GTI's
Chris Force doubles in the fourth. Force had three hits with two
runs batted in as
GTI II picked up an 11-9 victory over Versailles
Tuesday. CNO photos by George Starks
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GTI holds on
for narrow victory
By George Starks
VERSAILLES- GTI II jumped on Versailles for seven runs in the opening
two innings Tuesday but forgot about one thing.
Versailles is a team that has the ability to jump right back.
Leading 11-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, GTI gave up five
runs before putting the game away, clinging to a slim 11-9 victory over
the Tigers.
“We were looking good,” said GTI coach Jacob Burke. “We quit throwing
strikes, just like the game at Vandalia. We didn’t have a lot of errors
but we quit throwing strikes and we let our guard down and we can’t do
that. Our guys hung in there tough though. We made that last play and
are getting out of here with a win.”
After allowing five runs to cross the plate as Versailles sent 11
batters to the plate, in a game that lasted just over 2.5 hours, the
21st out came on a ground ball out off the bat of Kyle Cotner.
While things ended in a frenzy for GTI, it started out in much
the same way.
In the opening inning, Burke watched 10 of his kids go to the plate,
with five runs crossing, highlighted by run scoring hits from Chris
Force, Adam West (2) and Lane Washington.
In the second, GTI pushed two more across as Force picked up his second
run batted in with West getting his third of the game.
West accounted for five of the 11 runs scored getting two more RBI’s in
the fifth.
Holding what seemed to be a lead that would not be touched by the
Tigers (7-0), Versailles started to chip away.
The Tigers plated a run in the second and three more in the third,
closing the gap to 7-4 as Alex Groft scored on a passed ball with Jacob
Heitkamp and Austin Knapke getting RBI hits for the Tigers.
“We came on strong and made a game of it,” said Versailles coach Max
Kindle. “The kids never quit and played hard right to the end.”
Still up by three, GTI plated a run in the fourth and got three more in
the sixth to once again take a commanding lead of 11-4.
Holding the seven run advantage going into the seventh, things for
Versailles started out harmless enough as Kyle Subler led the frame off
with a routine ground ball to shortstop for the first out of the inning.
At that point, the wheels fell off for GTI.
Cotner reached on an error, Heitkamp followed with a double to left and
the Tigers were in business.
Austin Knapke walked to load the bases then Connor Custenboarder
doubled to center scoring two, cutting the deficit to 11-6.
Isaac Ruhenkamp would pick up a run-scoring hit, 11-7, before Corey
Rodrides and Groft would walk to once again load the bases.
Versailles would plate two more runs before GTI would put the game to
bed and end it.
“I was getting a little nervous,” said Burke. “This is a team that
didn’t quit. They never do. We got some timely hits and hit the ball
well. I just feel good about getting out of here with a win.”
With their rally caps on, the Tigers made things interesting.
“We made it close in the seventh,” said Kindle. “We got down five in
the first inning and that put us behind the eight ball from the get-go.
The kids were able to play through it. That made things tough for us.
Something happened there in the seventh and the guys started to hit the
ball. I don’t know what happened but it was a little too late for us.”
These two teams will hook up again tonight at Sater Diamonds.
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Alex Groft scores in
the third for Versailles.
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