BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — It took the Kingsmen over six innings to find offense in the opening game of their Prospect series against PDG on Tuesday. When it mattered, they produced a three-run inning to come back and beat the Generals.
The Kingsmen entered the game undefeated in Prospect ABA play after a good showing in East Cobb, and saw the PDG opener as a chance to keep that streak going.
Noah Entrekin gave the team another good start, but a two out, two run rally in the fourth knocked him out of the game. An RBI triple with a runner on first base gave Noah his first earned run of the season in eighteen innings pitched.
In relief, Tristan Harless picked up the slack, keeping PDG in check. He pitched the final three innings and change in order to keep the visitors within reach.
Early on in the contest, it looked like it could have been another big day for the offense. The Kingsmen loaded the bases with one out in the first and were poised for a big inning. PDG starting pitcher Caleb Mastin worked himself out of the jam. Then he settled in.
The lefty threw five scoreless innings to Kingsmen hitters, and while he only struck out one hitter, he kept the bats in check.
As the game entered the seventh, there was a feeling of frustration in the air. The Kingsmen had just two hits, and nothing but zeros on the scoreboard. After Anthony Seminara lined out sharply for the first out of the inning, it felt like the frustration would likely continue.
However, back-to-back base hits by Ashton Bowes and Caiden McNeil (the two hitters at the bottom of the order) loaded the bases. Ryan Watters walked to bring a run to the plate, and Beatrice did the rest.
A first pitch liner into the left-center field gap swung the result in the Kingsmen’s direction.
And as the team chased Owen into the outfield in celebration, the sense of frustration was replaced with a new feeling.
You can’t count these guys out. And that’s a great thing.
