The umpire prepares to signal an out after Fairbanks infielder Owen Woody (white jersey) puts the tag at second base on Triad’s Russell House after a stolen base attempt.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Triad High School’s baseball team has had to weather a lot of storms this spring…. 18 of them to be exact.
The Cardinals also had to withstand a couple of weather delays during Thursday evening’s contest at neighboring Fairbanks.
Both teams left the diamond for brief spells after the umpires heard thunder in the distance.
The breaks in the game just delayed another setback for the Cardinals, this time by an 8-0 count.
FHS pitcher Dayne Madison did a solid job of limiting Triad’s offensive opportunities.
He scattered three hits in seven innings, struck out five and issued four walks.
Madison got off to a rocky start when he had trouble with the strike zone in the visitors’ portion of the initial inning.
He walked a pair of batters, but a double play and strikeout kept the Cardinals (0-18 overall and 0-14 in the Ohio Heritage Conference) off the scoreboard.
“It was really hot (mid-80s) when the game started and I got off to a rough start,” said Madison. “I got stronger as the game went on (and the temperature dropped a bit).
“My fastball to the outside was working,” he said. “I also got them to swing on 0-2 curveballs.”
“Dayne pitched a good game,” said Fairbanks coach Josh Rine.
The Panthers (10-8 overall and 8-5 in the OHC) plated five runs through the first two innings off Triad starter Gage Heitman.
Hayden Queen and Madison began the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles.
They both advanced on a wild pitch.
Heitman put a strikeout in the book, but a sacrifice fly by Cole Justus gave FHS a 1-0 lead.
Madison later scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 edge.
Heitman got out of further trouble with a flyball out.
Aiden Luellen singled and swiped second in the home portion of the ensuing inning.
He scored on Carson Reames’ bad-hop base hit through second base.
Heitman issued walks to Chase Shope and Madden Ungerer to load the bases.
Queen was plunked by a pitch that allowed the fourth Panther run.
Madison lofted a 3-1 pitch into the sky for a sacrifice fly that produced FHS’ 5-0 advantage.
The scoreboard was quiet for the next 2 ½ innings.
Triad managed to get only one base runner on board during that time when Russell House singled in the top of the fifth.
Heitman’s troubles continued when the Panthers came to bat in the bottom of that frame.
Justus drew a free pass and scored when Zavier Payne ripped a double deep to center field.
Payne scooted to third on a fielder’s choice.
A fielder’s choice/error as a result of Reames’ at-bat gave Fairbanks a 7-0 lead.
Heitman walked Shope, which prompted Cardinal head coach John Roberts to bring House in to pitch.
The Triad reliever got two outs and stranded a pair of base runners.
The first weather delay occurred before the Cardinals could come to bat in the top of the sixth.
Once play resumed, Madison retired three of the four batters he faced.
The Panthers were getting ready for their turn on offense in the home half of the sixth.
Once again, thunder rumbled in the background and sent both squads to their respective dugouts.
House was still on the bump when action once again resumed.
With one down, Max Snyder blistered a two-bagger and went to third on a balk.
He scored Fairbanks’ final run on Justus’ sacrifice fly.
Payne was issued a walk, but a flyball out ended the inning.
Madison didn’t have too much trouble putting the Cardinals down in the top of the seventh.
Alfred Johnson was hit by a pitch to begin the inning for Triad.
He took second on a wild pitch.
Colton Thomas put the ball in play and Johnson broke for third without being forced.
Queen, FHS’ shortstop, fired the ball to third baseman Shope, who applied the tag on Johnson for the first out of the inning.
“We’re a very young team and that play showed our inexperience,” said Roberts. “There’s really not much more to say.”
A fly ball and grounder ended the contest.
Fairbanks outhit the Cardinals, 7-3.
“We did enough on offense to win the game,” said Rine. “We were also able to take advantage of some Triad mistakes.”
Triad 000 000 0-0 3 2
FHS 230 002 1x-8 7 1
WP: Madison
LP: Heitman