WARNER – On a blustery day at Biff Thompson Field, the 17th ranked Warner Eagles held of the #7 ranked Vian Wolverines 13-12 in a final inning nail-biter.
With a 40+ MPH wind blowing out to left field, the long ball was defiantly in play Friday afternoon with both teams posting multiple home runs over the seven inning contest.
Warner started the scoring in the bottom of the second, Austin Spradlin singled to center scoring Justin Duke and Kaleb Spradlin. Adam Thompson reached on an error by the third baseman scoring Cole Mayfield to put the Eagles up 3-0.
Austin Spradlin then scored on a wild pitch and Thompson on a pass ball. Jace Jackson followed with a triple off the wall in left to score Caden Thompson to put the Eagles up 6-0 after two.
Vian responded in the top of the third with a Dreighton Fletcher triple before Diego Ramos hit one out over the left center wall for a 2-run homer.
A dropped third strike and a walk put two men on for the Wolverines and Cash Collins came thru with a triple to center scoring Connor Flynn and Destry Bethel.
Now up by only two, in the Warner half of the third, Mayfield doubled with one out followed by a Beau Thomas walk. Adam Thompson singled scoring Mayfield to put Warner up 7-4.
Caden Thompson followed with a 3-run homer to open the Eagles lead to six runs.
The Wolverines picked up another run in the fifth when Kaden Fulbright singled to left to score Connor Collins to bring Vian one run closer.
In the Eagles fifth, Adam Thompson walked with two outs brother Caden singled to score Adam. Jackson was hit by a pitch before Wyatt Hamilton singled to score Caden Thompson and the Eagles were crusing 12-5.
The top of the sixth saw Vian catching up. Singles by Bethel and Collins put two on for Riley Ellis who homered to left. The 3-run tally made it 9-3 Eagles.
In the bottom of the frame Mayfield walked before Thomas singled to put two men on with two outs. Adam Thompson followed with a single, scoring Mayfield for a 13-9 Warner lead.
The Wolverines weren’t done yet. In the top of the 7th Brandon Redburn opened with a single followed by a Ramos single to put two men on. A double by Collins scored Redburn to get within three runs. Collins came through with a double scoring his brother and Ramos, but a pop fly to short right by Michael Polecat ended the Wolverines bid one run short 13-12.
Vian will get another shot at the Eagles when they host them at 3:30 April 3rd before taking on 4A Wagoner at 5:30 in a double-header.