Tallulah Falls dropped one and won one in dramatic fashion at Pepperell in the Sweet 16. Both teams were ranked as high as #4 in the state polls, the Dragons came back to win game one 4-2 before a lengthy 7-6 second game that spanned 11 innings went to Tallulah.
GAME 1
TFS made an early statement with a two-run first inning when Chris Waldron scored on a wild pitch and Chase Pollock singled in Diego Gonzalez. The offense only mustered three hits and four walks, and were shut out the rest of the way.
Pollock threw a complete game, taking the tough-luck loss after giving up only five hits and a walk, striking out six while surrendering four runs, only one of which was earned. The 2-0 lead held until the Dragons scratched across one in the fifth and three in the sixth.
L: Chase Pollock (5-3)
RBI: Chase Pollock
GAME 2
The Indians looked to rebound in the second game with Andrew Skvarka getting the start. Pepperell got a run in the first inning, but Tallulah responded in the third on a BJ Carver two-run single. The Dragons reclaimed the lead with a three-run fifth to go up 4-2. That deficit reached 6-2 after another two runs in the sixth off Cole Bonitatibus in relief.
Ashton Roache ignited the offense in the home half of the sixth with a line drive homer to right. David Dutary doubled in Carver moments later, and the game was tied on a two-run, two-out single by Waldron. It remained 6-6 for the next several innings. In fact, neither side could get another run across until the 11th inning.
Roache doubled to right to lead off the bottom of the 11th. He stole third with one out. After a fly out kept him there, Caden Walker laced a single to left to plate the game-winning run.
The Indians had 13 hits, with Roache going 3-for-6 with a homerun and two doubles. Carver had three hits and two RBI, while Walker and Dutary each had two hits and an RBI. Bonitatibus (7-1) grabbed the win after pitching six innings with six strikeouts against two hits and six walks. He gave up four runs (one earned). Skvarka went five innings with two earned runs, giving up six hits.
The Indians are now 22-10 on the season, and will play a decisive game three on Tuesday for a chance at making the Elite 8.
W: Cole Bonitatibus (7-1)
HR: Ashton Roache (5)
RBI: 2 Chris Waldron, 2 BJ Carver, Ashton Roache, Caden Walker, David Dutary
