Jake Ward's gem undone in 7th inning rally by Bartlesville
/By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (20-10) traveled to Bartlesville (9-18) Thursday evening and gave up a 5-4 loss despite leading till the seventh inning and dominating the entirety of the game.
Jake Ward (4-2) was a machine on the mound, pitching six innings and giving up only three hits, three walks, and one run, while throwing 52% strikes for eight strikeouts. Trevor Doyle got the win on the mound for Bartlesville, giving up only two hits and no runs, while Jake Terry (5-3) got the loss for the Sandites after relieving Ward in the seventh inning and giving up four hits, two walks, and four runs in a third of an inning.
Zach Snow started the game for the Bruins, striking out Rhett Rutledge, but giving up a double to Ward, walking Joey Montgomery, and a single to Treyce Tolbert. Courtesy runner Mack Thompson advanced to home on a throw to draw first blood.
Ward struck out two in his first inning on the mound, but walked AJ Archambo and allowed him to score on a double by Zac Boyes to tie it up. The second inning was a no-hitter for both teams and Ward struck out the side in order.
Rutledge singled in the top of the third but was put out on a fielders choice and Thompson was caught stealing. Garrett Meidl reached on an error at short stop and stole second before being stranded as Archambo struck out swinging.
Hunter Greathouse singled in the fourth but was left stranded. Boyes struck out in the bottom of the fourth as Ward pitched yet another no-hitter inning.
Sand Springs finally took the lead back in the top of the fifth as Terry singled and came in on a Rutledge double. Rutledge scored on an error and Josh Taber scored on a single by Montgomery for a 4-1 advantage.
Ward walked two in the bottom of the fifth and gave up a single to load the bases, but saved the inning with another Archambo strike out. Both teams put a single runner each on base in the sixth and Trevor Tolbert was stranded after singling in the top of the seventh.
With the game seemingly all wrapped up, Terry went to the mound and started off well with a strikeout of Derek Hill. Then, Bartlesville went to work.
Logan McNeill singled in Hunter Stoops, and Boyes singled in Meidl and Brady Sewell to tie it up. With two on base, and only one out on the board, things became dire for the Sandites. Doyle stepped to the plate and took one strike, then fired off a line drive single into left field to score Archambo for the win.
This is the second time this season the Sandites have been upset in the seventh inning by Bruins.
Sand Springs returns to action Friday in Fayetteville as they take on Bentonville (13-7) at 4:30 and Fayetteville (14-9) at 7:00. The Bruins will travel to Tulsa Friday at 4:30 to battle the Booker T Washington Hornets (3-25).
2016 Baseball Photo Galleries can be found at https://sanditepride.smugmug.com/2016-Baseball
