Worth the wait: Frankfort edges Scott in 8 innings

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — No. 2 Frankfort and No. 3 Scott had to wait an extra day to meet in a Class AA semifinal after Thursday’s postponement.

The Falcons and Skyhawks played the first four innings Friday afternoon, before heavy rains caused a six-hour delay.

After the contest resumed, Frankfort overcame a 1-0 deficit to force extra innings, then capitalized on a pair of Scott errors in the bottom of the eighth to claim a 3-2 victory.

“When you blow a lead like that late in the game, it’s always tough,” Scott coach Brett Kuhn said. “Two outs, nobody on and we didn’t make the plays to close it out. The story of the game just comes down to missed opportunities on our part. We had opportunities to score.”

The win sends the Falcons (27-5) into Saturday’s AA title game against No. 1 Bridgeport.

With the game tied at 1 in the top of the eighth, Scott standout and WVU signee Carter Lyles belted a double to the deepest part of the park in centerfield, allowing Aaron Epling to score the go-ahead run. The Skyhawks (28-8) tried to double their lead on that play, but Nathan Kuhn was cut down at the plate on a strong relay.

Still, Scott had a 2-1 lead and was three outs from securing its spot in the state title game.

Frankfort’s Matt Miller postgame interview

Lyles struck out the first two Falcons he faced in the eighth, before allowing a two-out single to Zack Whitacre. Whitacre’s hit marked Lyles’ 110th pitch of the game, forcing him off the mound and to third base.

Aaron Adkins took over at pitcher and Whitacre immediately stole second. Frankfort pitcher Caleb Hare then sent a ground ball to third — where Lyles had moved to — and reached when the ball was thrown away to first, allowing Whitacre to score the tying run.

“I said the same thing last week at Fairmont — I knew if we could get Zack and Caleb up at the top of the order, we had a shot,” Frankfort coach Matt Miller said. “And they came through. That’s what they’ve done all year for us.”

Following a stolen base by Hare, Chandler Rhodes lifted a fly ball to left that looked to be a routine out. But the ball was dropped and Hare came around to score the winning run, setting off a frenzied Falcons’ celebration.

“Frankfort battled back and really stole one from us,” Kuhn said.

The only run scored prior to the delay came in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and no outs, Nathan Kuhn drove in Hunter Eplin with a fielder’s choice to second base, giving Scott a 1-0 lead.

However, Hare struck out Lyles, who was called for batter’s interference when Kuhn attempted to steal second, allowing Frankfort to minimize the damage and keep the deficit at one run.

“We couldn’t overcome a number of different things that cropped up during the game,” Kuhn said. 

Lyles retired 12 of the 14 batters he faced over the first four innings, including two by strikeout each of the first four innings.

When the fourth inning concluded, the game was stopped with Scott clinging to a 1-0 lead. Following several hours of storms and extensive work on the field, it resumed at 7:15 p.m. 

Lyles and Hare remained on the mound and continued to shine. 

“Both kids came back out and battled. I think it was pretty much the same game before and after (the delay),” Miller said. “To pitch 60 pitches and come back six hours later and throw as well as both those kids did, that’s what it’s all about.”

The Skyhawks, however, missed out on several chances to add to their lead.

Scott had a runner caught stealing in the fifth, before another batter’s interference call caused an out in the sixth. That was followed by Peyton Brown connecting for a single, only to be thrown out at second when he tried to stretch it into more.

Frankfort got even in the home half of the sixth after Hare reached second on a throwing error, stole third and scored on Rhodes’ sacrifice fly to right.

The Skyhawks got a runner to third in the seventh, but Hare struck out Eplin to keep the game knotted.

Hare pitched all eight innings. He scattered 11 hits and struck out five with a pair of base-on-balls.

“I’ve always had a rubber arm. I don’t throw hard, I just throw strikes,” Hare said. “I throw from the side so it’s not so much on arm, maybe my elbow a little bit. I didn’t want to come out in what could have been my last high school game.”

Epling was 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot in defeat.

Lyles went 7 2/3 innings and struck out 14, walked two and allowed only two hits.

“We have to hit tomorrow,” Hare said. “We can’t wait until the last second like we always do. My heart can’t take that. It’s too much adrenaline for me.”





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