Stunning Finish ends Sidney Rally at Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT – Trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday night, Sidney set the table perfectly for a comeback. Three straight singles loaded the bases with nobody out, and the top of the order due up. But a great defensive play and two perfect throws ended Sidney’s hopes and the game.

Sidney got on the board early as Reid Fiscus and Austin Wolfe worked a pair of walks against Bridgeport Bomber starting pitcher Dalton Kriha to start the game. A couple of stolen bases, a passed ball, and an error later Sidney had an early 2-0 lead. Kriha settled in after the shaky start, striking out five of the next seven batters he faced.

Sidney starter Blaine Russell kept the Bombers at bay giving up two hits while striking out three through three innings of work. Austin Wolfe took over on the mound for Sidney and was greeted with a leadoff double from Dalton Kriha to start the fourth inning. Bomber reliever Montgomery Brown, who took over for Kriha in the top of the inning, reached base when Sidney centerfielder Patrick McCartney miss-played a fly ball putting the tying on base. After Wolfe struck out Levi Weyerts, third baseman Larry Lofton tied the game with a two RBI Double to left field.

Bridgeport took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when pinch-hitter Matt Monheiser singled to left field with one out. A hit by pitch and a walk loaded the bases for Bridgeport allowing Monheiser to score on a fielder’s choice.

Sidney put the bat on the ball in the sixth inning but only could muster an infield single and three fly-ball outs. Ty Stettner came on to pitch the sixth for Sidney, giving up a walk but recording three strike outs.

Then came the Sidney seventh. Ty Stettner singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Patrick McCartney followed with a blast to the left field fence by was held to a single when Stettner held up rounding the bag at second. Connor Hurt’s attempt at a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners turned into a perfect bunt-single and Sidney had bases loaded with nobody out. Top of the order Reid Fiscus hit a bloop fly to shallow left field. Bomber leftfielder Scout Gamble dashed in and made a sliding catch for the out. Stettner tagged up and sprinted for home, but Gamble popped up and threw a strike to the plate to nail him for the second out. McCartney headed for third on the throw home only to be cut down on a great throw by catcher Ethan Eckhart for the third out of the inning to end the game.

Sidney finished with two runs on seven hits with two errors to fall to 0-2 on the season. Bridgeport had three runs on six hits while committing three errors and picks up their first win to go to 2-1.

Sidney is back in action this weekend as they travel to Alliance for the Alliance Senior tournament.