By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The first game of the district doubleheader between the Fayette Academy Vikings and Tipton-Rosemark Academy Rebels was a seesaw affair.
The Monday game took place April 4 under the lights of Rebel Baseball Field. The visiting Vikings jumped out 2-1 after one inning. Then it appeared TRA’s comeback would ice the game.
In the late innings the scoreboard gave a spectator the impression Fayette Academy was going to prevail running away. But a late comeback by the Rebels brought the game down to the last batter in the seventh inning. The third double play turned by the Vikings was enough for the 12-11 victory.
After falling behind 2-1 early, TRA exploded for five runs in the second inning highlighted by an RBI single from senior Ben Wilson that made the score 5-2. The Rebels were ahead 6-2 after two innings of play.
The Vikings scratched out a run in the third inning to make the tally 6-3. Fayette Academy’s next inning saw 11 batters come up the plate and score 6 runs to take a 9-6 lead. The Rebels finally ended the Viking rally with double play, a bit of foreshadowing.
The game appeared to be over when Fayette Academy plated 3 more runs in the fifth inning. TRA couldn’t muster up a comeback in the fourth and fifth innings with double plays ending both frames.
After another scoreless half of inning, TRA was down to three outs.
Using patiences at the plate, Head Coach Jacob Cole’s team fought back with walks and timely hits. The biggest blow of the seventh inning came off the bat of junior Eli Ramsey. With the bases loaded and one out, Ramsey stepped into the batter’s box one swing away from tying the contest.
Now trailing 12-8, Ramsey crushed a Fayette Academy offering to right-centerfield hitting a triple off the wall. Three Rebels crossed home plate to make the score 12-11.
Two batters later, the Vikings were finally able to stop the seesaw in the victorious position when the Fayette Academy shortstop caught a liner off the bat and tagged the runner at second for the double play.
