Bears outlast Starmount in extra innings

Mid-South News Service

MOUNT AIRY – Mount Airy’s baseball team scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to edge Northwest Conference foe Starmount 12-11 on Friday night.

The Rams took an 11-10 lead in the second extra inning when Tyler Puckett singled. George Speight reached on a fielder’s choice that turned into a Puckett-scoring error. Two outs later, Mitchell Truban connected for a single, scoring Speight and ending the contest.

The Bears had to rally for most of the game. They fell behind 5-0 by the third inning but led 7-5 before the Rams added three more runs in the middle innings.

Mount Airy had their backs to the wall in the seventh down by one. Buzz Wilmoth doubled and took third on a passed ball. He came home on a Drew George groundout, knotting the contest.

George and Wilmoth both had big games at the plate for Mount Airy. George went 2-4 with three RBIs while Wilmoth was also 2-4 with three runs scored and two driven in.

Matthew Blood finished 3-for-6 for the Bears with three runs and a double. Truban was 2-4 with two runs.

Garrett Shore led Starmount at the plate with a 3-3 day. Brandon Gray went 2-3 with a home run.

Wilmoth picked up the win for the Bears, coming on in relief of Chapin Williams in the third. He went the rest of the way.

Williams took the loss for Starmount.

Next up for Mount Airy (4-8, 4-6 NW) is a showdown with conference leader South Stokes at home on Tuesday. The last time the teams clashed, the Sauras had to win the game in the bottom of the seventh.

S 3 1 1 0 1 2 0 2 1 – 11 11 6
MA 0 0 3 4 0 0 1 2 2 – 12 13 4

WP – Wilmoth (3-0)
LP – Williams
2B – Royall (S), George (MA), Wilmoth (MA), Blood (MA)
HR – Gray (S)