North Union’s Caden Potts fires the ball toward the plate against Ridgemont. Potts fanned 13 during the game.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
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During any sports season there can be times that are up and those that are in the other direction.
However, having that type of activity is not that common during a game.
North Union, though, went through that twice in baseball games on Friday and Saturday.
The Wildcats finished on the good side in their 6-5 win at home over Ridgemont on Friday.
However, they could not replicate it on Saturday at Indian Lake during an 8-7 setback.
North Union seemed to have the game in hand against Ridgemont, leading 4-1 after five innings.
Caden Potts was outstanding from the pitching mound, allowing just one hit and posting 13 strikeouts.
The cold weather, though, caused some pitching arm issues and Potts departed after five innings.
“The key for me was throwing strikes,” Potts said. “I have been having some trouble with my control of pitches.”
“Caden has a strong arm and he can rack up the strikeouts,” NU head coach Nick Blakeley said.
North Union started quickly, scoring two runs in the first inning.
A double by Potts scored Tyler Krebehenne.
Potts was able to cross the plate on a sacrifice fly by Mason Bright.
Ridgemont scored a run in the top of the fourth inning, but the Wildcats came right back in the bottom of the frame with two runs.
Miles Marlette hit a one-out single and advanced to second with a stolen base.
Marlette scored on a single by Evan Beery and Beery raced home on Connor Lassiter’s sacrifice fly.
Ridgemont scored two runs in the sixth to cut lead to 4-3,
The Gophers then tallied twice more in the seventh to take a 5-4 edge.
The Wildcats weren’t not going to let a win elude them.
Drew Schmidt beat out an infield hit, stole second and scored on a single by Krebehenne.
Krebehenne swiped second and third and then scored on a single from Potts.
“We responded when we needed to get the win,” Blakeley said. “But we know we have to play better.”
Indian Lake led 5-1 after five innings on Saturday.
North Union scored four times in the sixth to tie the game.
The Lakers, though, took back the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
The Wildcats (4-2) rallied to score two runs in the top of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
Neither team scored in the eighth, but Indian Lake tallied the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.
Lassiter and Beery each had a double while Landon Converse, Marlette and Schmidt each had single.
R. 000 102 2—5-6-1
NU 200 200 2—6-7-3
WP—Lassiter; LP—Moore.
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NU 000 014 200—7-5-4
I, Lake 010 042 001—8-11-4
WP—Finfrock; LP—Schmidt.