The Herald-Tribune
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The Batesville Lumbermen traveled to Sharon Woods on July 14 to take on the Cincinnati Red Stockings.
Even though the game was away, the Lumbermen won the ceremonial coin toss and chose to bat last.
The match did not start out well, but the Lumbermen rallied to post a 24-23 victory over the Red Stockings.
The Lumbermen saw the Red Stockings plate nine aces in the first two innings only to tally five of their own in the bottom of the second inning. The Red Stockings continued to pound the ball and took a commanding 23-8 lead after six and one-half innings.
Down by 15 aces, the Lumbermen rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Striker “batter” after striker found openings in the Red Stockings defense. After the dust settled, the Lumbermen tallied nine aces to pull within six at 23-17.
The pitching by Anthony “Big City” Casablanca and a strong Lumbermen defense shut down the Red Stockings over the final two innings. The good defense allowed Batesville a chance in their final trip to the plate.
Dan “Wheels” Schuman started the inning with a solid hit followed by Eric “Rocky Top” Kuntz. After one out was recorded, the Lumbermen bats struck for four more hits and plated six aces to tie the match. With Steve “Buzz” Shepherd on second and two outs
Schuman laced a single to left-center field to score Steve “Buzz” Shephard for the game-winning run.
Matthew “Pudge” Fullenkamp, Tim “Sparky” Fullenkamp and Kuntz each recorded five hits, while, followed by Mark “Spider” Stenger had four.
The Lumbermen will play in Oldenburg at the Freudenfest on Saturday, July 21, against the Indianapolis Hoosiers. The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
The Lumbermen are now 9-6 on the season.
