Photo by Sam Sawyer
MEBANE–There was hope around Eastern Alamance circles that Wednesday night would be the night.
The last time the Eagles defeated Orange in baseball was May 13, 2011, in the opening round of the 2A State Playoffs.
On Wednesday, there were signs something unusual may take place. Though it wasn’t in the forecast, rain showers popped up out of nowhere in the third inning, leading to some sloppy defensive play by Orange. The weather was supposed to clear up as the night went on, yet the rain returned at game’s end. And it was harder than before, in the 7th inning as Orange sophomore pitcher Tyler Thompson was trying to get the final out.
On his 105th pitch, the maximum allowed by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, Thompson induced Kasen McGuiness to flyout to Caden Pope in left field, sealing Orange’s 14th straight win over Eastern Alamance.
Trailing 4-3 going into the fourth inning, the Panthers scored six unanswered runs to win 9-5 for its tenth win in eleven games. Thompson, a sidearmed right-hander called up from the junior varsity squad last month, is now 4-0 after throwing the final six innings in relief of starter Oliver Van Tiem.
After a 3-6 start, Orange is now 13-7 overall.
Van Tiem threw the first inning as he steadily works his pitching arm back into shape following a series of injuries. He struck out the side before reporting to centerfield, yielding pitching duties to Thompson.
Van Tiem left his mark at the plate, as well. After junior J.P. Rodio reached on a dropped ball in the infield, Van Tiem crushed a fastball that faded over the green-and-gold fence in right centerfield for his fifth home run to put Orange ahead 2-0.
That was all Eastern Alamance head coach Caleb Robinson needed to see. In Van Tiem’s subsequent two plate appearances, he was intentionally walked.
The first time was in the third inning after Rodio reached on another error. Sophomore catcher Mason Bullard drilled a double down the right field line. After Van Tiem took his base, senior Wren Hash walked with the bases loaded, scoring Rodio and putting Orange ahead 3-0.
The rain started coming down in the bottom of the third, which may have helped Eastern Alamance erase its deficit. John Wittig reached on an error at third base. Zack Merchel reached on a bunt that Hash fielded at first base, but no one was left covering the bag. Witting scored off an errant throw to third base off a bunt by Rett Page. Merchel would score off a wild pitch with Tyler Westbrooks at the plate. Landon Blackard drilled a liner to the centerfield fence for a double to score Page and tie the game at 3-3. McGinnis, who started the game at designated hitter, pounded a double down the right field line to bring in courtesy runner James Wellons and give the Eagles its only lead at 4-3.
With two out in the fourth, Orange’s Gary Miller stroked a soft liner to left that Page dove for but couldn’t reach. Miller wound up with a double. Kayden Brasher smashed a first-pitch to the centerfield fence to bring in Miller and tie the score 4-4.
Rodio, a junior transfer from Northern Durham, scored four runs. He opened the fifth by stroking a double down the left field line. Bullard grooved a single to centerfield, easily scoring Radio to put the Panthers ahead for good. After Van Tiem was walked, Cam Brown laid down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away. Allen Flores, running for Bullard, and Van Tiem both scored. Camden Pope laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to score Brown.
Rodio would tack on another run in the sixth off a soft liner to second that was thrown away. Rodio wound up at second off an error, then stole third. Van Tiem, who actually got a chance to hit, sent a sacrifice fly that was caught by Jarrett Newell, but Rodio scored to make it 9-4.
As the rain starts to fall in the seventh, the Eagles made a late rally. Wittig opened with a double, then went to third off a balk call. Westbrooks walk and Blackard reached on an infield single to score Wittig.
Eastern Alamance falls to 8-11.
