Ark Valley News - Hornets can’t hold lead in 4-1 loss

Sophomore Nate Postlethwait pitches against Maize South.

Hornets can’t hold lead in 4-1 loss
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: May 28, 2015

If you hadn't played in more than a week, chances are you'd be a little rusty around the edges. That didn't appear to be the case with Valley Center baseball in its regional game, pushed back to May 21 because of rain.

Although Valley's last game was May 12, the Hornets stayed with No. 8 Maize South. Three runs in the fifth were the difference, however, in a 4-1 Mavericks victory. Valley ended its season 6-12.

"We talked with the boys today about just going in, compete, and see where the game takes us," coach Nick Barnes said. "We competed offensively. We competed defensively. We put them in situations to make plays. We battled out of some situations where they had runners on."

The Hornets took the game to South, pushing across a run in their first at-bat. With one out, Jeremy Chase singled and moved to second when Nate Postlethwait reached on an error. Blake Crager delivered a single to right that scored Chase for the quick 1-0 lead.

On the bump, Postlethwait set Maize South down 1-2-3 in the first before starting to struggle. The Mavs had two on with two outs in the second, and a runner at second with one out in the third. Postlethwait got out of both jams to maintain the lead.

But he wasn't as fortunate in the fourth, when South tied the game. Kole Koster singled, moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a wild pitch. All this with no outs.

With runners at the corners and one out, Logan Mormando hit a grounder to short. Barbour checked Koster at third before throwing out Mormando. The speedy Koster, however, was off with the throw and scored.

The fifth inning was the backbreaker, as Valley committed three errors on two key plays. South scored two runs on errors and one on a sacrifice fly to take a 4-1 lead.

"You can't do that against teams at a higher level. They'll capitalize on that stuff," Barnes said. "You take away two plays, and we're probably still playing right now, to be real honest with you."

Valley had base runners in every inning except the sixth. Maize South starter Nate McBroom allowed four hits and got the outs when he needed.

Chris Bluml was hit by a pitch to lead off the second. Wyatt Lange sacrificed him to second, but he went no farther.

In the third, a double play erased a runner at first.

The fourth saw Carson Lee open with a walk, and Kadin Pearson sacrifice him to second. After Bluml reached on an error, the next two batters were retired.

In the fifth, Postlethwait singled with two outs and died there. Ditto for Barbour in the seventh.

Postlethwait took the complete-game loss, allowing four hits and four runs. He walked four and struck out three.

The Hornets played well against a top-notch team to end a disappointing season.

"We talk about playing the best baseball at the end of the season. I thought we did that today," Barnes said. "I'm proud of the boys and how they played. We put some young kids out there but I thought all of them rose to the occasion and put us in a situation to have some success in the future.

Maize South 4, Valley Center 1

Valley Center 100 000 0 --- 1 4 3

Maize South 000 130 x --- 4 4 2

Postlethwait and Bluml; McBroom and Johnson. W – McBroom. L --- Postlethwait (4-3).