Colonels drop extra innings skirmish with Patriots

The Cass Colonels fell behind early, battled back to send the game into extra innings, but then fell to the Paulding County Patriots in nine innings Friday night at LakePoint in Emerson.

Spencer Pethel hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to put the Patriots in front early and Paulding added another run in the second to go up 4-0.

Cass responded with the game’s next four runs to knot the score.

A pair of walks and two hit batsmen plated the Colonels’ first run in the bottom of the second. Jesiel Moctezuma followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the Cass deficit to 4-2.

Neither team scored over the next three innings but the Colonels took advantage of a single by Chase Tatum, a dropped third strike, and a pair of walks to narrow the Patriots’ lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

Down a run in their final frame of regulation play, a two-out single by Moctezuma was followed by Hunter Lovett’s RBI double to send the game to extra innings.

Following a scoreless eighth inning, Paulding took advantage of an infield error and two singles to take a 5-4 lead.

The Colonels got the potential tying run to second base with a walk and another single by Moctezuma, but were unable to complete another comeback.

Hunter Redden (3.1 IP, 1ER, 3H, 2BB, 4K) was the winning pitcher for Paulding County in relief of starting pitcher Pethel (3 IP, 2ER, 1H, 3BB, 6K) and middle reliever Chris Carson (2.2 IP, 1ER, 4H, 3BB, 6K).

Jack Shipp (four hits, two doubles), Josh Wilder, and Pethel combined for eight of the Patriots’ 14 hits and four RBIs.

Devan Hutchinson (2.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 3H, 0BB, 1K) was the tough-luck losing pitcher for the Colonels despite not allowing an earned run. Cayden Roberts (1.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K) started on the mound. Trenton Payne (3.2 IP, 0R, 5H, 1BB, 2K) and Wesley Collins (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 1K) also pitched.

Moctezuma finished with three hits and one RBI. Lovett had two hits including a double and one RBI. Connor Jenkins contributed a pair of hits and Tatum added the other Cass safety.

Paulding County improved to 4-6 on the season.

Cass (3-4) returns to action Monday at home against Central-Carroll at 5:55 p.m.