Chris Isler of North Union stretches to catch a ball at first base for a force out against Madison-Plains on Friday. The Wildcats fell to the Golden Eagles, 9-6. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
There are games when the drive to win is palpable.
At other times, it simply isn’t there.
The North Union baseball team fell into the latter category Friday when it hosted a non-conference game against Madison-Plains.
The Wildcats dropped the 9-6 contest and coach Klarke Ransome said his team “got what they deserved.”
“I think we weren’t ready to play,” he said. “I whole-heartedly believe we are the better baseball team, but that is what happens when you don’t show up to play.”
Ransome tagged Evan Hoffer to start on the mound.
Hoffer struggled with his command, hitting one batter and walking another.
The junior pitcher was able to work out of the first inning with a punch out, but gave the Eagles one run.
North Union had a solid answer to the early run.
Aaron Krebehenne led off with an infield single and Nolan Draper took first on error by Madison-Plains.
Trevyn Feasel tagged a single to left field that loaded the bases.
The Wildcats tied the game when Landon Converse drew a walk.
Hoffer laid down a bunt squeeze play where everybody was safe to give NU a 2-1 lead.
Mason Bright gave North Union another run with a fielder choice RBI.
Hoffer returned to the mound in the second inning and yielded a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and a single to right field.
That tied the game at 3-3.
The Wildcats couldn’t answer in the bottom half of the second inning.
Ransome called on Feasel to take the hill in relief.
The senior also had some early woes.
He hit a batter, but was able to rebound to collect three outs in the field.
North Union retook the lead in the bottom of the third inning on Bright’s double that plated a runner and moved the score to 4-3.
The Eagles, however, responded in big way during the fifth.
Madison-Plains only had a pair of hits heading into the inning.
The Eagled led off with a single up the middle.
Feasel got his first out on a flyball to left field.
His struggles with control returned as he gave up a pair of walks in the inning.
Madison Plains notched three hits and climbed to a 7-4 lead.
The Eagles added a pair of runs in the sixth, thanks to a lead-off double and a North Union error.
NU responded in the box when Bright led off with a two-bagger.
North Union eventually loaded the bags.
Krebehenne gave NU a run with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
Draper added a run with a shot to the left-field gap.
By the end of the sixth inning, the Cats still trailed the Eagles, 9-6.
Ransome said his team has never given up this season, but they do allow too many runs before they answer back.
“I think we went through the motions today,” he said. “I wouldn’t say we laid down.
“We were able to make it interesting in the end,” the coach said. “We’ve got to find a way to have that mind-set and approach at the beginning of the game and not when we are down five runs.”
North Union showed some signs of a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning when Hoffer hit a one-out double.
Richie Bolander drew a walk and Chris Isler also got a free pass to load the bases.
With two out, the Eagles brought in Kosta Xenikis to close out the game.
He was able to get a pop fly to shortstop out of Krebehenne to end the action.
The Wildcats moved to 9-16 on the year and are scheduled to return to action Monday at home against Fairbanks.
MP 120 042 0 9 8 3
NU 301 002 0 6 9 2
WP-Pollock
LP-Feasel
SV-Xenikis