The last day of July would have two Walkerton teams facing
off against each other for local bragging rights. The game would be closely contested in a back and forth battle
throughout the game.
Team Neilly would be the first to bat and would score three runs after sending nine batters to plate in the first inning. Team Hope would respond with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Runners Jake Wells, Talan Hope, Connor McIntosh and AJ Wells would all cross home plate to score. The boys were threatened again but the third out was recorded with Matthew McNaughton being stranded at third base.
In the second inning Team Neilly would again score three runs by again sending nine batters to the plate to face Team Hope pitchers. In the bottom of the inning Carson Baglole lead off with a single and then promptly steal second base. Jake Wells would walk and both runners would advance on a passed ball. Carson would be thrown out at home plate with a near perfect tag to record the final out. Team Hope would trail 6-4 after two innings.
The third inning and each team would send five batters to face the oppositions pitching but neither team was able to capitalize and would eventually leave runners stranded. AJ Wells had doubled and Carson Filsinger would walk but the two runners would eventually be left at third and second as a third out was recorded.
The fourth inning and Team Neilly would add another run to his lead. Carson Baglole would walk to lead off the bottom of the fourth for Team Hope but after a strike out and a pop fly the team was down to its final out. Talan Hope would single and Connor McIntosh would double. Now trailing by a single run Connor McIntosh would attempt to steal third base. The pick off throw was a tad high and would sail into shallow outfield. Connor would round third and score the equalizing run. The game would end in a 7-7 tie and everyone would go home knowing that they had just seen two highly competitive teams play with heart and soul.
TEAM HOPE TEAM NEILLY
7 7