Amateur Baseball: Five-run 8th costs Aces

The Red Wing Aces came back to tie the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning but a big eighth inning by the Coon Rapids Red Birds saddled the Aces with a 9-7 loss Friday at the Red Wing Athletic Field.

The Red Birds scored five runs in the eighth inning thanks in part to two errors by Red Wing.

“It turned ugly in the eighth,” Aces manager Andy Gibart said. “Realistically, we were right there. We had the opportunity in the seventh and that’s the disappointing thing in this game. We couldn’t’ capitalize and they took advantage in the eighth.”

Red Wing (3-3, 2-2 Classic Cannon Valley) loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning of a 3-3 game but the next two batters struck out to end the inning.

Kyle Blahnik went 1-for-4 with two RBI, Jimmy Bohmbach was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Zach Laffey finished 2-for-3 off the bench to lead the Aces.

Gibart started on the mound for Red Wing and kept the Red Birds under control despite a tough first inning. Gibart threw six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out two.

“They were hitting every fastball and every curveball (outside),” Gibart said. “I changed my tune and started throwing junk and busting them in and held them at bay through the sixth.”

Coon Rapids scored two runs in the first inning on a home run.

The Aces responded with two runs of their own in the first on a sacrifice fly by Alex Quiding and an RBI single by Jake Laffey.

Red Wing plays at Northfield Sunday before facing Miesville Monday at the Red Wing Athletic Field.

Tags: amateur baseball, red wing, sports, proam