The bats came alive for the ADM baseball team in their bout with class 4A’s 6th ranked Lewis Central Titans on senior night last night. It was an offensive battle for both teams and the runs came in spurts and when the dust settled the Tigers were on the unfortunate side of a 15-7 loss to the Titans.
The ADM bats gave Lewis Central pitching a run for their money early as ADM posted a 5 run bottom of the first inning to grab a comfortable lead early. A single, a walk, and a batter hit by pitch would lay the table nicely for ADM catcher Nick Lindgren who sent a screaming single into right field for a two run single as the Tigers struck first. RBI singles by Kade Overton and Chase Ritchie would follow to make it 4-0 which would be capped off by Adam Walter reaching first via error which would drive home run number five.
The Tiger lead would be brief however as the Titans would bat through the line up posting up 5 runs off of 6 hits thanks in large part to Titan third baseman Caleb Shudak’s grand slam off over the head of Flora in left field bringing the score even at 5-5.
Both teams would take turns adding runs in the third inning. Lewis Central started things off a sacrifice fly and an RBI single from the bottom of the line up while the Tigers would answer right back to tie the game at 7 a piece. Jack O’Brien would reach via error, one of three for the Titans on the night, which would allow a run to score in the process followed by a sacrifice fly to plate a runner by Adam Walter.
Lewis Central would have the last laugh however as with ADM mustering just two hits the rest of the contest, the Titans would put up a four run fourth inning, a three run 5th inning, while adding one more run in the top of the seventh to cushion the lead to eight. ADM would attempt a late game rally but unable to push across a run or a hit in the final innings as the Titans would hold on for the 15-7 win.
Chase Ritchie started things off on the mound going just over three innings of work being credited with 7 runs crossing the plate although he would exit the mound with a tie game. Benn Carson and Jack O’Brien would take things from there giving up 8 runs and striking out two batters between them.
Last night marked the final contest at Tiger Field for the 2016 season for ADM as they will be road warriors for the remainder of the regular season and into district play. The Tigers will now fall to 3-24 on the season as they look to end the win less drought tonight taking on Van Meter on the road. ADM will see three straight ranked teams in three different classes facing a Van Meter team ranked 5th in class 2A. Due to potential inclement weather tonight’s game has been moved up to a 5:00 varsity start time. With the move up Raccoon Valley Radio will be unable to broadcast tonight’s contest which means the next ADM baseball broadcast will be tomorrow as the Tigers take on the Carlisle Wildcats in their final RRC game of the regular season.