GALION, Ohio — The Graders lit the fuse Sunday night, but the grand finale would have to wait until the postgame fireworks display.
Galion scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the potential game-tying run at second base with nobody out, but the rally withered on the vine in a 6-5 loss to the Southern Ohio Copperheads in front of a record-setting crowd of 1,022 at Heddleson Field.
“It would have been a great Fourth of July if we could have gotten it all the way done,” Graders manager Ray Neill said as fans began setting up lawn chairs in the outfield grass in anticipation of the fireworks show. “At least we got a little pre-fireworks excitement going here in the ninth inning.”
Self-Inflicted Wounds: Galion (6-15) trailed 2-1 after six innings before coming unhinged in the top of the seventh. Southern Ohio (14-9) scored four runs on just one hit, taking advantage of three walks and a pair of Graders’ errors.
“It’s Jekyll and Hyde from at bat to at bat and inning to inning and, needless to say, game to game. It’s frustrating for us,” said Neill, whose team lost for the eighth time in 10 games and trails league-leading Lima by nine games. “We see guys go get it done for a couple of innings and all of a sudden lose it.”
Chipping Away: Trailing 6-1 after the disastrous top of the seventh, Galion stayed within striking distance with single runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth. Mark Delas and Nick Riotto drove in runs.
Ninth-Inning Comeback: The Graders got it going against Copperheads closer Eddie Fitzpatrick in the bottom of the ninth. J.T. Core started the rally with a single and moved to third on a Zack DeThomasis double. Core scored and DeThomasis took third on a passed ball before Mark Delas reached on an error, allowing DeThomasis to score. Aaron Caputo followed with a single, putting runners on first and second with nobody out.
Fitzpatrick got out of the jam with a flyout and a game-ending double play ball to pick up his fifth save.
“When we need that one hit, we’re not getting it,” Neill said. “Every mistake we make gets magnified.”
No Quit: Despite his team’s recent struggles, Neill is encouraged by Galion’s approach. The Graders are six games out of the sixth and final playoff spot with half a season to play.
“The intensity within our dugout … is very good for a team that is struggling,” Neill said. “It’s not, ‘It’s summer ball and I don’t care.’ There is concern in our dugout.”
“It’s Jekyll and Hyde from at bat to at bat and inning to inning and, needless to say, game to game. It’s frustrating for us,” said Graders Manager Ray Neill.
