OMAHA, Neb. — The Everett Black Sox Junior American Legion team erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to blow open a tight game today against Fort Morgan, Neb. The result was a 12-3 run-rule win, which gave the Sox a split of their first two games at the annual 17-and-under Battle of Omaha.
Earlier in the day, the Sox suffered a 10-1 loss to Omaha Skutt, one of the host teams. Bryant is set to play teams from Independence, Mo., and Hickman Norris of Nebraska on Friday then take on Eureka, Mo., on Saturday.
Garrett Misenheimer had three hits and drove in five runs in the Everett victory. Logan Allen and Hunter Oglesby each had two hits. Jordan Gentry and Daniel Darbonne knocked in two apiece.
Alex Shurtleff picked up the win on the mound, striking out seven without a walk in the five-inning game.
The Sox led 4-1 going into the fourth inning against Fort Morgan but the Nebraska team scored twice in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to one.
The game-breaking outburst began with walks to Misenheimer and Dylan Hurt. Oglesby sacrificed then Jordan Gentry drove in two runs with a double. Aaron Orender singled him in. After Orender stole second, he advanced to third when Cameron Coleman bounced out to the right side. Darbonne singled him in.
Allen’s bloop single to right was followed by Connor Tatum getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought up Misenheimer who cleared the bases with a double. Singles by Hurt and Oglesby brought him around to make it 12-3.
Shurtleff ended it with a flourish, striking out the side in the top of the fifth.
Fort Morgan had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first then got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the inning after Allen and Hurt walked on either side of a single by Misenheimer.
Shurtleff worked a 1-2-3 second, fanning two and the Sox grabbed the lead in the home half. Coleman’s one-out single ignited the rally. Darbonne walked then Allen cracked an RBI double to right. With two down, Misenheimer laced a two-run single to right to make it 3-1.
They tacked on a run in the third when Oglesby doubled, Gentry was hit by a pitch, Coleman walked and so did Darbonne, forcing in the run.
Fort Morgan used four hits to plate two runs in the top of the fourth, cutting it to 4-3.
In the loss to Skutt, the Sox fell behind 4-0 in the third. Two more runs in the top of the fifth made it 6-0 before Bryant pushed in its run in the bottom of the frame. A four-run sixth made it a run-rule lead that held up for the win when the Black Sox were unable to scratch in the home half.
Allen had two of Bryant’s eight hits including a single that drove in Coleman with the lone run. Coleman had singled with two out and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Tatum walked to set up Allen.
Bryant used three pitchers in the game. Orender suffered his most rugged outing of the season. Beaux Bonvillain and Noah Easterling pitched in the sixth.
The Black Sox are 8-4 this season going into Friday’s games.
