By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
STRAFFORD — The Fair Grove Eagles (15-4) and Strafford Indians (13-6) sat atop the Mid-Lakes Conference standings, 1 and 2, respectively, prior to Tuesday’s clash at Strafford.
The Eagles, the No. 7 team in Class 3, entered the tilt with a 14-4 record, and the Indians sported a 13-5 record.
Fair Grove utilized small-ball as they defeated the host Indians 3-2 in nine innings.
Knotted at two apiece in the top of the ninth, Spensar Seiger laid down a textbook bunt in the grass down the third-base line.
The Indians felt the pressure as a hurried throw made its way past the third baseman’s reach, and Kellan Kirkpatrick rounded third, sliding headfirst for the winning run.
While plate discipline was up and down throughout the night as the Eagles battled Strafford southpaw Eli Clark, small-ball fundamentals were front and center, as the offense put added pressure on the host’s defense throughout the night.
A recipe for success for the Eagles.
“A coach I worked with said the bigger the game, the bigger the bunt. And sometimes bigger the bunt defense,” said Eagles skipper William Reed, who is in his third year at the helm. “We were able to get down a couple good bunts. Defensively, fielded a couple of bunts. They threw one away; we got a couple of extra bases.”
Runs were at a premium as both starting pitchers took command of the zone.
“Both pitching staffs were so good in the zone,” Reed said. “It was going to take a play like that, to make a mistake, to win that game. We were fortunate enough to do so.”
Eagles starter Brock Boatwright went five innings plus, allowing two runs.
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But it was the shutdown operation of his colleague, Gavin Thomason, who came on in relief and hurled four innings that made waves— getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth, which set the tone for the remainder.
“We have really good pitching and pretty good defense,” Reed said. “They grinded tonight. They didn’t have their secondary stuff. For them to be able to compete with just a fastball says a lot about their mental toughness. There have been games where they have gone seven innings.”
Thomason echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“We stayed together. I always trust my defense,” said Thomason, who allowed two hits and stranded nine runners in four frames of relief.
While small ball has been a vital element of the Eagles program dating back a few years to former head coach Christian Overstreet, the variable is carrying on through Reed.
“It is something that I believe in,” said Reed. “I should probably do more of it. In our big games, we have had to have a big bunt.”
Thomason took the win for the Eagles.
Tyler Hunt took the loss, allowing one run in two innings.
Up next for the Eagles, who are 7-0 in conference play, are Skyline and Springfield Central, whom they meet at this weekend’s SWMO Wood Bat Tournament.
