Siloam Post 29 Storms Orthodontics appears to have a flair for the dramatic when playing on its home baseball field.
Storms rallied from a 5-0 deficit Wednesday night to defeat the Fort Smith Junior Sportsman 7-6 in extra innings in game one of an American Legion baseball doubleheader at James Butts Baseball Complex.
It was the second time in two weeks that Storms put on a rally at home, coming back from a 6-3 deficit to beat Russellville 7-6 on June 6 as well.
"During the summer it just seems like we're never out," said Storms coach Alan Hardcastle.
The second game of the doubleheader ended in a 14-14 tie.
Storms pitchers struggled in the early going issuing nine walks, two hit batsmen and two wild pitches as Fort Smith opened up a 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Storms also had a pair of errors in the opening innings that led to some Sportsman runs.
Storms scored two runs in the third, two in the fourth and two in the fifth to tie the game, which was being played with an hour-and-45 minute time limit.
To break the tie, the international tiebreaker was used with each team starting with a runner on second base to begin its half of the sixth inning.
Fort Smith was unable to score its run in the top of the sixth.
Storms' Reed Willbanks hit a single to right to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth for the game-winner.
Willbanks' hit scored pinch-runner Tevin Herrel from second base.
The bottom of the sixth inning was an interesting sequence for Storms (7-6-1).
Starting the inning with a runner on second, Storms moved the winning run to third base on a bunt by Colin Evers, who also reached safely at first. Fort Smith decided to intentionally walk Chance Junkermann to load the bases and set up a force at every base.
Landon Ellis hit a ground ball to third base and Tevin Herrel was out at home via force, and Fort Smith threw to first base to try and get a double play. Ellis was safe at first and Evers tried to score from second and was also thrown at home.
Willbanks was the next batter and he laced a single to right field and Herrel scored the winning run from second base.
"We kind of pressed the issue there trying to get (the winning run) to score," Hardcastle said. "We were a little aggressive trying to end the game, but hey Reed Willbanks stepped up, and delivered the final blow."
Dawson Armstrong started on the mound for Siloam Springs and struggled with his control, with four walks and two hit batsmen in 1 2/3 innings.
Dakota Herrel relieved him and had some control issues of his own early before settling down to pitch 3 1/3 innings of relief.
"Dakota Herrel came in and threw a great 3 1/3," Hardcastle said.
Baron Meek pitched a perfect sixth inning to keep the game tied and strand the runner who started the inning at second base via the tiebreaker rule. Meek was the winning pitcher for Storms.
Storms began its rally in the bottom of the third. Ellis doubled to open the inning and Willbanks drove him in with an RBI single. Willbanks eventually scored on a Tanner Broyles groundout to make it 5-2.
In the bottom of the fourth, Isaac Price doubled and Armstrong reached on an infield hit. Junkermann roped a two-out, two-run double into the right field corner to make it 5-4.
Fort Smith got a run in the top of the fifth to go ahead 6-4, but Storms answered with two more in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.
Broyles singled and advanced all the way around to score on three wild pitches. With two outs, Price and Armstrong drew back to back walks and Price ended up scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game.
"It was a team effort," Hardcastle said. "I tell you, we did a great job. It's hard to single one guy out. I'm happy and proud of all of them. It's a great step in the right direction."
Storms was scheduled to play a doubleheader against Vilonia and Clarksville in Clarksville on Saturday. Results were not available at presstime.
Storms is back in action at Lincoln on Monday and at Harrison on Tuesday before returning home against Rogers on Wednesday.
Sports on 06/17/2018