Baseball: Homer pulls away late to down Union City to complete sweep
HOMER — The Union City Chargers baseball team traveled to Homer Thursday night to make up game two of their scheduled double header with the Trojans, a game that was postponed from May 5.
Homer scored seven runs over the final four innings of the contest to turn a razor thin game on its head as it was the Trojans taking the 10-5 win.
Homer started off the scoring with three runs in the first inning thanks to a Bryant sacrifice fly, scoring Brady Katz; a Harris Rbi single, scoring Butler; and a Miller RBI single, scoring Harris, giving the Trojans the early 3-0 lead.
Union City came back to score two runs in the bottom of the second inning to close the score to just a single run. Union City’s two runs came thanks to a bases loaded hit by pitch drawn by Luke Watson, scoring Rick Austin, and a Kyle Johnson RBI single to right field, scoring Tyler Wagley, closing the game to 3-2 after two innings.
Homer started to pull away beginning in the fourth inning as the Trojans scored one run in the fourth, one run in the fifth, and three runs in the sixth inning to build a 8-2 lead.
Union City desperately tried to claw their way back into the contest in the sixth inning as they plated three runs. The scoring started off with the Chargers loading the bases thanks to a Tyler Wagley walk, an Owen Jackson single, and a Luke Watson walk. Two pitches later Wagley would come home to score on a wild pitch, closing the score to 8-3.
After Jackson was caught trying to steal home, leadoff hitter Wade Hoffman drew a walk, putting runner’s a first and third with one out for Union City. Homer pitcher Brady Katz was called for a Balk during the next at-bat, allowing Watson to score from third, closing the score to 8-4.
Two batters later junior Phoenix Elkins hit a hard ground ball to left field, allowing Hoffman to score, bringing the score to 8-5 in the sixth inning. Union City reloaded the bases in the inning thanks to a Jakob Fosmore walk however Katz was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout, keeping the score at 8-5.
With the game still very much in the balance Homer added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a Butler two run home run to centerfield, pushing the lead to 10-5.
Union City was able to get one man on base in the seventh inning thanks to a walk drawn by Wagley, however Katz proceeded to notch three straight strikeouts to end the game and give the Trojans the 10-5 win.
Wade Hoffman took the loss on the mound for Union City after throwing five innings in the start, allowing eight hits and five runs, only one of which was earned, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Owen Jackson came in to pitch a third of an inning in relief during which he gave up three runs, two earned, with three walks and a strikeout.
Freshman Rick Austin finished out the game on the mound, throwing one and two-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits and two runs.
Leading the Union City effort at the plate was Wade Hoffman with two singles, a walk, and a run scored; Kyle Johnson with two singles, a walk, and an RBI; Phoenix Elkins with two singles and an RBI; Jakob Fosmore with a single and two walks; Rick Austin with a run scored; Tyler Wagley with a single, two walks and two runs scored; Owen Jackson with a single and a walk; and Luke Watson with two walks, an RBI and a run scored.
With the win Homer completes the two game sweep over Union City as they took game one back on May 5 by the score of 3-2.
Union City falls to 10-5 overall on the season and 6-3 in the Big 8 conference while Homer improves to 15-3 overall and 8-1 in the Big 8 conference. Union City will next see action on Saturday when they travel to Sand Creek for a round robin tournament where they will face Sand Creek and Morenci.
