Four-Run Eighth Lifts Builders Over Rappahannock 10-9

Four-Run Eighth Lifts Builders Over Rappahannock 10-9

HAMPTON, VA. – A two-run single by Devorn Lake topped a four-run eighth inning as the Apprentice School rallied to defeat Rappahannock CC 10-9 on Thursday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium.

After trailing 1-0 following a solo home run from Kenneth Belgrave in the top of the first, the Builders answered with three runs in their half of the fourth.  Kevin Sias plated a pair of runs with a double down the lefty field line to score Lake and Josh Tuck while Andrew Yonta scored on a sacrifice fly from Chris Aldridge for a 3-1 lead.

Rappahannock answered with a pair in the top of the fifth, but the Builders responded with one in its half to regain the lead 4-3 on a Lake groundout that scored Ryan Wagner who started the inning with a walk.

The Gulls tied it with a run in the sixth and took a 7-4 lead after a three-run top of the seventh with Belgrave driving in one with a double and Ben Beacom scoring another on a single.  Apprentice School cut the deficit to 7-6 with a pair of runs in their half of the seventh on a RBI ground out from Chris Kennedy and scoring on a throwing error.

The lead went back to the Gulls after a two-run top of the eighth before the Builders plated their four runs to take the 10-9 lead in its half of the eighth.  After one out, Aldridge singled and advanced on an error.  Wagner was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Kennedy followed with a sacrifice fly to center scoring Aldridge to make it 10-7.  Josh Tuck singled to right field to score Scarola to bring the Builders to within two at 10-8.  Lake followed with his single to right field which got under the right fielder enough to plate Tuck and Wagner with the tying and go-ahead runs.

Lake was the leading hitter for the Builders going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Aldridge was 2-for-3 with a RBI and Tuck was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a RBI.  Tabb Griffey was the winning pitcher throwing the last two innings and allowing four hits.

Apprentice School (4-4) is now off until March 2 when they travel to Salisbury, Md. for a 2:30 pm first-pitch with the Salisbury Sea Gulls who are ranked 21st in NCAA Division III.