Tiger nine repeat at Stoutland

Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 4/3/19

OWENSVILLE — Starting their season off on a five-game winning streak, Chris Feeler’s Belle Tiger baseball team looked to make it six in a row with a victory last Tuesday against …

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Tiger nine repeat at Stoutland

Posted

OWENSVILLE — Starting their season off on a five-game winning streak, Chris Feeler’s Belle Tiger baseball team looked to make it six in a row with a victory last Tuesday against Owensville’s Dutchmen.

Making the short trek east on Highway 28 to Memorial Field, a pair of big innings did the visiting Tigers in falling 16-6 to Owensville in five innings.

Taking advantage of a two-out rally, Belle jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning.

Mason Butler walked and scored on a Levi Fortner RBI single putting the visiting Tigers out in front 1-0.

Keeping the two-out rally going, Ethan Loughridge doubled down the left-field line driving in Fortner giving Belle an early 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately for the visiting Tigers, that lead was short lived.

Owensville plated six runs on three hits, two walks, a hit batter and an error leaving BHS staring at a 6-2 deficit after one inning.

Feeler’s Tigers got a run back in the top of the second inning when Nathan Valley walked and scored after Butler reached on a fielder’s choice before taking third on a Dutchmen error. This cut the Owensville lead to 6-3 through two innings.

Continuing to keep after it, Belle used another two-out rally to tie the game in the top of the third inning.

Jeb Seaver drew a one-out walk before Jace Gieck drew a two-out walk setting up two runners on for Butler.

Reaching on an error, Butler made it safely to first base while Seaver scored and Gieck wound up at third base with Owensville’s lead now at 6-4.

Back-to-back RBI singles from Lane Feeler and Dylan Light scoring Gieck and Butler respectively tied the game at 6-6.

Committing two errors in the bottom halves of the fourth and fifth inning, the Tigers allowed Owensville to score the next 10 runs causing the game to end in five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Handing Dixon a 7-4 loss last Monday, Feeler’s Tigers faced their Highway 28 rivals to the northwest in the championship game of the Stoutland Tournament after it was rained out the previous Saturday.

Trailing virtually the entire game, Belle pulled through in the top of the seventh inning when Butler reached on a two-base error before scoring the eventual winning run on a Jat Ridenhour RBI sacrifice fly.

This gave Belle a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Dixon helping them defend their Stoutland Tournament title from last year.

Playing as the visitors, Belle took full advantage in the top of the first inning.

Feeler drew a one-out walk and scored on a passed ball during Ridenhour’s at bat helping the Tigers to an early 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs.

Turning three walks, an error and a hit into three runs, Belle trailed the Bulldogs 3-1 after an inning of title-game baseball.

Loughridge drew a leadoff walk before Gieck walked with two outs in the top of the second inning setting the table for Butler.

Facing a 1-2 count, Butler doubled to left field scoring Loughridge and Gieck to tie the game at 3-3.

Two Dixon hits in the bottom of the second inning left Belle trailing 4-3.

Pitching around three hits and a walk the rest of the game, Ridenhour’s effective pitching kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard allowing Belle’s offense a chance at a comeback.

In the top of the fifth inning, Ridenhour helped his cause with a two-out walk before scoring on a Light RBI double with two outs tying the game at 4-4 through five innings.

Seeing Butler reach on a two-base error leading off the top of the seventh, Ridenhour delivered the eventual game-winning RBI sacrifice fly.

Monday night in Cuba, Belle opened the Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) Tournament with an 8-1 victory over Cuba.