Nicholas County and the wind team up to blow down Bracken County

Saturday was a lousy day to play a baseball game. However, Nicholas County had two on its schedule, hosting a triangle with Fairview and Bracken County. The Bluejackets battled cold weather in their first contest and pulled out an 11-8 come-from-behind win over Fairview. Yet, that was nothing compared to the day’s final outing in which Nicholas County held off Bracken County 7-6 while having to endure a fierce windstorm that blew in from right field and worsened as the game progressed.

“It’s probably as windy as I’ve ever had it,” Bluejacket coach Travis Sims said. “For our guys to fight through those elements and get two wins, I was pretty proud of them.”

Nicholas County ended the day with an overall record (5-4) above .500 for the first time this season. Bracken County (3-4) held off Fairview (1-10) 14-4 in Saturday’s other contest.

Against Bracken County, the Bluejackets scored a run in both the first and second innings, but needed a game-ending error in the bottom of the seventh to secure the day’s second win.

Despite squandering some early scoring chances, Nicholas County took the lead after Isaac Fryman crossed the plate during a double play in the bottom of the first inning. The hosts took advantage of a Polar Bear error and wild pitch, before Sam Hamilton’s sacrifice fly scored Kody Campbell in the second. The Bluejackets followed by loading the bases, before the inning ended on an infield ground out.

Bracken County tied the score with a two-out, two-run error in the top of the third. A Campbell walk, another Polar Bear error and a Spencer Morris single to left-center field allowed Nicholas County to regain the advantage at 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth.

Hamilton’s two-out, two-run double to center field in the bottom of the fifth pushed the margin to 6-2. However, the visitors would not go down quietly. Bracken County plated four runs in the final two innings to tie the score at 6-6 entering the bottom of the seventh.

Despite battling intermittent wind gusts that slowed play, the resilient Bluejackets dug deep and capitalized on Bracken County miscues in the host’s final trip to the plate.

With one out, Campbell reached on fielding error and Hamilton followed with a fielder’s choice. In essentially a single sequence, Hamilton moved to second on a passed ball and third on a wild pitch, with the latter compounded by an error from the Polar Bear catcher, who tried to throw out Hamilton as he headed to third base. That throw sailed over the head of Landon Bishop and into right field, allowing Hamilton to come home.

“When I got my jump on second, I saw the ball get by the catcher and I knew I had to steal. As soon as I got to third, I saw the third baseman jump and I figured (the ball) got behind him and coach Sims said ‘go’,” Hamilton said while recapping the play. “When I was running home, I knew I was in pretty good. The catcher kind of hung his head, so I knew I didn’t have to slide.”

In addition to scoring the winning run, Hamilton finished the game 1-for-2 with three RBI.

Like Sims, Hamilton noted the challenges of playing in adverse weather conditions.

“It was rough trying to judge (fly balls) out there on defense,” he said. “I just tried to hit it opposite field because the ball was tailing away and going outside (due to the wind) since I’m a right-handed hitter. I just tried to take it the opposite way and that’s what I did.”

Nicholas County committed more errors (six to five) and had fewer hits (six to nine) than Bracken County, but left fewer runners on base and capitalized on its late scoring chances.

“We just stayed on task today better than what we’ve been doing the last few weeks,” Sims said. “We’re starting to get to play a few more games, instead of just one or two a week. We played six games this week and I think that’s helped contribute to us swinging the bats a bit better.”

Fryman led the Bluejackets at the plate with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Morris was 2-for-2 with an RBI and reached two more times after being hit by a pitch. Despite not getting a hit, Campbell reached base on all four of his plate appearances and went on to score twice. Mercer Wills and Trent Letcher also added a run apiece.

Wills pitched six innings without allowing an earned run or a walk, but left the game after facing two batters in the top of the seventh. Reliever Andrew Hawkins picked up the win after securing three outs, two by strikeout, pitching to five batters.

Tanner Fisher suffered the loss in two and two-thirds innings on the mound. Jacob Hamilton started the game and pitched four innings, surrendering just one earned run on four hits.

Fisher, Caleb Rigg and Cooper Engnes each had two hits to pace the Polar Bear offense. Fisher and Rigg recorded the team’s lone two RBI.

In the day’s first game, Nicholas County surrendered seven second-inning runs to Fairview to dig an early 7-1 hole. The Bluejackets responded with five runs in the bottom of that frame, and went on to score four times in the third and twice in the sixth to rally to the victory. Fairview added a run in the top of the fifth.

Drew Davis paced the hosts with a 3-for-4, three-run effort. Fryman finished 2-for-4 and contributed two runs and an RBi. Wills had a hit and two RBI. Morris, Letcher and Campbell each tallied a hit and an RBI, while Hawkins added one hit and scored twice.

Dan Wiggins earned the win after throwing four innings and allowing two hits and one run in relief. He also walked two and struck out three. Hawkins started the game and lasted one inning and Morris pitched the next two. Fairview batters collected nine hits.

Nicholas County hosts the 10th Region All “A” Tournament semifinals and finals on Saturday. The Bluejackets face defending champion Bishop Brossart in one semifinal at 1 p.m.