TJ loses 7-6 to rival George Washington in extra innings.
TJ baseball is headed to the playoffs to face off against Pueblo South after a 7-6 loss to GW.
The George Washington Patriots and the TJ Spartans collided on the diamond at All City Field Tuesday evening, and the tightly contested game had to extend into extra innings before declaring a winner. The Patriots came out on top 7-6 in the 8th inning, but for the Spartans – who are headed to the playoffs shortly – this game was a “tune-up” for the squad, which is looking to make a lengthy playoffs run this spring.
Heading into the bottom of the 6th inning the Patriots were on top 6-4, and had their ace pitcher Abe Bobb on the mound hoping to close out the Spartans. Senior Sam Thomas stepped up to the plate with two outs and came through for TJ and hit a game tying triple, deadlocking the score at 6. No runs were scored in the 7th inning, but in the 8th inning Bobb returned the favor to Thomas, hitting a double in an unusual fashion. Bobb hit a high rocket headed for center field fence when Thomas tracked it down and caught the ball, but he then stormed into the fence face-first and dropped the ball, allowing Bobb to advance to second base. The following batter hit a single, and Bobb scored the winning run for the Patriots.
Four players pitched for the Spartans in this “tune-up” game: Sophomores Kyle Freeland and Chris Van Dyke, Senior Robby Folk, and Junior Brennan Henry.
“The fence is feeling a lot worse than I am today,” joked Thomas. “I am more upset I didn’t make the catch, though; it was a crucial time of the game.”
Next up for the Spartans will be playoff competition, which will begin Saturday, May 2nd. TJ will play Pueblo South in the first round.
