LA GRANGE — The La Grange High School baseball team fell to Rockdale High School in extra innings by a final score of 9-6 Feb. 27 at Leopards Field. Costly errors in the later in nings from La Grange led Rockdale to tying the game in a close one, then Rockdale finished the job with their bats in extras. “It boiled down to late in the game we just didn’t make pitches,” said La Grange head baseball coach Robert Barber.
“Sixth inning when they took the lead, we had two outs and nobody on and didn’t make the pitches to the eight and nine hole. Allowed them to get a little momentum and misplayed a ball in right field. It's the way the game goes. Just an unfortunate break. We just have to be better making pitches late in the game.”
Rockdale took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a wild throw from the Leopards after two Rockdale runners reached on a shot to left field and a ground er to third base. La Grange answered back by loading the bases in the next inning and scored two runs on a wild pick off throw at third following a fielder's choice.
Rockdale didn’t score again until the fourth inning when another wild throw caused a run to score from second base.
The Leopards stormed back in their next at bat to go ahead 4-2 after a walk, infield hit, bunt, and a base hit to center by junior Holden Cooper. Rockdale made it 4-3 in the top of the sixth inning on two walks and a base hit, then ended up grabbing a 6-4 advantage on an outfield error by the Leopards. Cooper drove in another run in the bottom of the sixth inning and later tied the game at six on a pass ball, which scored senior outfielder Brayden Horton after an error, a sac bunt, and a stolen third base.
The Tigers controlled extra innings and put three runs on the board with a base hit, walk, and a few errors from La Grange to put Rockdale ahead at 9-6. La Grange senior infielder Brock
Loehr ripped a double to right field to give his team some hope in the bottom of the eighth, but it wasn’t enough as Rockdale re- corded a strikeout for the final out of the game and a 9-6 win.
