Sea Of Cardinal Red

Riding an emotional roller-coaster after taking a 12-1 lead, then watching Shiloh Christian score 11 unanswered runs, the Farmington baseball team found a way to win.

The Cardinals prevailed 13-12 in a hard-fought game where they were pushed to the breaking-point on March 27.

Farmington baseball coach Jay Harper strives to consistently posture his team into game- winning potential. His intensity sometimes is mis-interpreted and he was ejected in the third inning with the Cardinals leading 7-1. Assistant coach Clint Scrivner took over and helped the team weather a storm of hurricane proportions.

Perhaps Harper and the Cardinals benefitted from providential circumstances when Trenton McChristian’s two-out grounder was mis-handled by the Saints’ infield, allowing the winning run to score in the sixth inning.

Equally important, was Scrivner’s hand- picked closer, the Cardinals’ fifth pitcher of the contest. Looking for a student/athlete from among the Cardinal varsity roster, physically and mentally capable and desiring to carry out the coach’s specific instructions to the utmost — Scrivner chose Blake Putnam, who proved equal to the task in a challenging situation with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth.

Seeking A Playmaker

After blowing a 12-1 lead and going through four pitchers, Farmington found themselves deadlocked in a 12-12 tie. Scrivner was facing a classic baseball dilemma. The Saints had loaded the bases with two outs, but he found a willing vessel in Putnam. Putnam secured the win on the mound by not allowing a run while pitching the final 11/3 innings.

Easy Street

The game didn’t start that way. Like the ancient Israelites preparing to march to the promised land after having spoiled the Egyptians, the Cardinals appeared poised to roll out of town on easy street. Things had pretty much gone Farmington’s way over the first fourand-a-half innings, despite starter Ben Silvis struggles with control issues, walking 4 batters in the bottom of the first and allowing one run.

Putnam and Tyler Gregg stroked RBI doubles propelling Farmington into a 2-1 lead after the first inning. Ryan Larkin and Kelton Price each drove in runs before Eric Hill blasted a 2 RBI double, upping the lead to 6-1 in the second. Farmington added another run on Gregg’s single in the third. The Cardinals tacked on 5 more runs in the top of the fifth on hits by Hill, Larkin, Putnam and Gregg and were out front, 12-1.

Momentum Shift

At that juncture, the game took a 180 degree turn with momentum shifting toward the Saints. The game seemed to be spiraling out of control as Shiloh scored 11 unanswered runs with Farmington held scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings. For Shiloh, Beau German was 2- for-3 with a run scored and 3 RBIs, Jake Nelson was 3- for- 4 with a run scored and an RBI, and Michael Connolly was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.

Farmington’s second pitcher of the day, Drake Vinyard, was chased after surrendering 6 runs on 4 hits and two walks in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tyler Gates relieved Vinyard and got out of the inning with a 12-7 Farmington lead. A third Cardinal pitcher, McChristian pitched the sixth, enduring 2/3 of an inning while the Saints rang up 5 runs on 5 hits aided by two walks. The 11 unanswered Saint runs evened the score at 12-all.

Denial At The Nile

With the bases loaded, the Saints were licking their chops — like Pharoah’s chariots bearing down on the Israelites at the Red Sea. But, Scrivner, long-time assistant coach of the Cardinals has been around the block. Like Moses, he stretched out his hand, signaling for relief and the Nile began to turn Cardinal red.

Scrivner played his hand, expressing faith in his bullpen, and inserting Putnam as a reliever. The move paid a handsome dividend as Putnam got a ground- out with the bases loaded for the third out, denying Shiloh the lead they desperately craved.

The wheels were starting to come off Pharoah’s chariots.

Seventh Inning Drama

Farmington made the Saints squirm by loading the bases. Tripp Cheney hit a two-out infield single in the top of the seventh. Hill and Fenton were walked to put a Cardinal runner at each base.

Transformed by renewing his mind and putting aside his troubles on the mound, McChristian went to work with his bat.

McChristian’s grounder went toward the Saint shortstop, but wasn’t fielded cleanly. The miscue allowed Cameron Bracy, pinch-running for Cheney, to score the go-ahead run. Farmington left the bases loaded, yet the Cardinals had clawed out a 13-12 lead; and were three outs from victory.

Slamming The Door

After walking Shiloh’s leadoff batter, who then stole second base, Putnam induced a ground-ball for the first out. Meanwhile, the runner raced to third.

Pharoah’s chariots had entered the Red Sea.

No problem, Putnam recorded a strike-out for out No. 2.

The next Shiloh batter walked, still no problem. The Saints were down to their last out.

With a potential go-ahead run at the plate and a potential tying-run at third base, Putnam delivered. A ball was hit into right field, but caught on the run as Cardinal freshman Drew Sturgeon slid into a catch.

The waves crashed and Shiloh’s comeback was swallowed up in a sea of Cardinal red.