The “it” is the suicide squeeze play and the Calhoun County Horsemen (8-3) executed it perfectly last Sunday to down Gulf County Drive, 10-9, in Game 1.
After Josh McIntosh ‘s two-run triple to centerfield had tied the game, 9-9, he bolted from third base toward home as Chad Bailey cued a sacrifice bunt down the first base line for the game winning run.
Presently, they are on a six-game winning streak.
The Horsemen put two runs on the board in the first inning. Lead off batter Josh McIntosh drew a walk. Chad Bailey’s single to right field moved McIntosh to second base and Ben Faurot allowed McIntosh to cross the plate after he ripped a grass-burner down the third base line. Trying to pull off a double steal, Bailey was tagged out by the third basemen but Faurot made his way safely to second. With two outs Tad Scott picked up one of three RBI on the day by slapping a single to right centerfield.
Gulf County’s Justin McCroan hit the first pitch he saw over the centerfield fence to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
In the top of the third inning the Horsemen’s Ben Faurot reached after being hit by a pitched ball and he moved to third base after Jeremy Proctor hammered a double down the third base line. Tad Scott laid down a sacrifice bunt on the right side to score Faurot. Dylan Eady’s bloop-single to centerfield allowed Proctor to advance to third base. Collecting his seventh RBI of the season was Greg Betts as he scored Proctor with a single to left field. Tony Golden loaded the bases after being hit by a pitched ball and newcomer Duke Anderson picked up his first RBI by drawing a full count walk.
The Horsemen held a 5-1 advantage until Gulf County (6-5) posted another run in their frame of the third inning.
Calhoun County added 2 more runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-2 lead. Once again Ben Faurot led off the inning with a hot-shot bouncing single past the third baseman. With one out Tad Scott turned around a 2-2 pitch and delivered it over the centerfield fence for his first jack of the season.
However, Gulf County tied it, 7-7, with 5 runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning, courtesy of a 3-run homerun and a 2-run dinger.
They took their first leadoff the game, 9-7, in the fifth inning with another 2-run jack,.
But the Horsemen withstood the heat and the pressure by sealing the deal in the sixth inning. Greg Betts walked after working the count full and Tony Golden was hit by the second of three pitched balls in the game. With one out Josh McIntosh rocketed a full-count triple over the centerfielder’s head that rolled all the way to the fence. Betts and Golden scored to tie the game 9-9. Chad Bailey’s sacrifice bunt allowed McIntosh to touch the dish with the game-winning, run, 10-9.
After one complete inning, the monsoon washed out Game 2.
Throwing his third complete game, Jeremy Barber gave up 7 earned runs off of 6 hits. Of the 35 batters he faced, Barber struck out 5 and gave up 6 walks.
The Horsemen’s offensive leader was Tad Scott who was 3-for3 (including a 2-run homerun), he collected 3 RBI and scored a run. Ben Faurot went 2-for-3, scored 3 runs, and he was credited with a RBI and a stolen base.
With the win Calhoun County remains tied with Liberty County atop the overall league standings at 8-3. The Horsemen continue to lead the Western Division by 2 games over the Bay County Brewers whose record is 6-5.
Congratulations to the eight Horsemen who have been named to the West Team for First Annual Big Bend Baseball All Star Game! They are: Chad Bailey, Jason Barber, Dylan Eady, Ben Faurot, Josh McIntosh, Jeremy Proctor, Tad Scott and Brandon Smith. These eight players will step onto Chipola College’s baseball field with 34 other all-stars at 2:00 pm this Saturday in an East versus West match up. Big Bend Baseball is honoring all fathers during the game and prizes will also be given away to some special dads.
Admission is FREE and the concession stand will be open. So bring the whole family and enjoy this Saturday afternoon under the covered grandstand at Chipola College’s baseball field.
GO HORSEMEN!!!
