BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence ended a four-game losing streak but couldn’t capitalize on that momentum while splitting games in the annual Orval Huffman Invitational on Saturday.
The Stars pieced together a frantic, fabulous rally in the seventh and eighth innings to clip Charlestown 6-5 in the extra-inning opener, but squandered multiple scoring chances while dropping a 3-2 decision to Brownsburg in the final game.
“I think we did some good things,” BNL coach Jeff Callahan said. “We did a lot of positive things. We need to keep those going.”
BNL 6, Charlestown 5 – In the morning opener, Cal Gates delivered a two-out, bases-loaded walk-off RBI single to cap BNL’s late rally from a two-run deficit.
The Stars trailed 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Trace Rynders led off with a double, and with two outs Kline Woodward delivered a run-scoring double to right, and Gates cracked a game-tying double to center.
The Pirates (10-15) scored a run in the third on a BNL error, then took advantage of two miscues, plus RBI singles from Garrett Titzer and Jackson Snelling for a 4-0 lead.
BNL answered with two runs in the third. After two walks, Maddox Ray doubled in a run and Woodward followed with a RBI single. BNL made it 4-3 in the fourth on a Rynders RBI, but Charlestown added a run in the sixth on Nick Broady’s RBI single. The Stars escaped more damage by turning a double play to end the threat and set up the dramatic conclusion.
“We were down to our last out, and you just hope to make something happen,” Callahan said. “We were able to do that. That was a good win for us.”
Walker Ward worked the first five innings on the mound and struck out nine. Lucas Ira earned the win in relief. Ray, Woodward and Gates all had two hits.
Brownsburg 3, BNL 2 – In the afternoon finale, the Bulldogs scored two unearned runs, and the Stars left a runner in scoring position in each of the last three innings as Brownsburg (7-16) turned two key double plays and slipped away with the win.
Brownsburg scored twice in the third, starting the frame with a walk and hit batter, and both runners moved up on a passed ball. Brownsburg’s Ty Jarvis lined out to right to score a run, but the Stars executed to cut down a runner at third. However, an error and following single by Ryan Murphy plated the second run.
BNL came back with a run in the third (singles by Cade Mungle, Cam Gates and Ray) and another in the fourth (Cal Gates walked, stole second, went to third on a dropped third strike and scored on Ty Tanksley’s sacrifice fly). The Bulldogs retook the lead in the fifth with a bases-loaded walk.
Brownsburg ended two innings with double plays, and the Stars managed only five hits.
”Brownsburg played some good defense,” Callahan said. “We had some hard-hit balls, we had our chances.”
BNL (14-11) will close the regular season on Monday at Loogootee.
