By Duncan Nixon
Fluco Head Coach Joel Critzer said after the game that his team wasn’t its usual aggressive self at the plate as the Flucos fell to Louisa 3-0 on May 19, with only two base runners in seven innings.
Sophomore first baseman Jake McCall lined a solid single to left to lead off the third inning for the Flucos. A hit batter in the fourth inning was their only other baserunner. The Lions’ pitcher went seven innings without allowing a walk. In high school baseball, it is hard to win without a few walks to put runners in scoring position.
In the first inning, the Lions’ leadoff batter doubled. After two outs, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases. A clutch two-out single scored two runs, and that was all Louisa needed.
Louisa tacked on an insurance run in the fifth. The first three batters walked. A sacrifice fly scored a run and left runners at first and third. The Lions tried a first-and-third double steal, but the Flucos stopped it cold. This defensive effort was a highlight for the Flucos.
The Lions tried the same double steal in the sixth, and the Flucos again cut it down. Most teams simply allow the runner from first to steal second, rather than risk allowing the runner on third to steal home while the defense tries to throw out the runner attempting to steal second.
Fluco pitchers senior Tramayne Minor and junior Brody Shields allowed only three hits and struck out seven, but walked five. The Lions left seven men on base.
The Flucos qualified for the Region playoffs, which begin May 27, with the Flucos at home. With a win, the Flucos would move into the Region quarterfinals and play away on May 29.
