Rob Brailsford’s RBI single in the fifth inning proved to be the eventual game-winning run, and PH reliever Ryan Mceachern put out a Cave Spring rally in the seventh, as Patrick Henry edged the Knights 3-2 in a rare noon start Saturday at John Edwards Field.
Down 3-1 heading to their last inning, Cave Spring made things interesting after Nelson Stanley was hit by a pitch and Kodi McIlwraith stroked a seeing-eye single to get the tying runs on base.
After PH center fielder Jimmy Butler tracked down a liner for the second out, Knight Cole Flora hit a RBI single to make it 3-2, putting the go-ahead run on base. Mceachern then coaxed a popup to first for the final out, earning the save.
Brailsford started on the mound for PH, going four innings to pick up the win while allowing only a second-inning run to the Knights.
PH overcame the early deficit in the bottom of the fourth. Bret Keuhn and Mceachern reached on singles before Mike Weaver connected on a 3-2 count for a 2-run double to right-center that put the Patriots up 2-1.
Cave Spring lefty Thomas Forest took the tough-luck loss on the mound for the Knights. Cave Spring reliever Adam Hufford kept the Knights in the game in the sixth after he came in the game with the bases loaded before getting out of the jam with no further damage.
Cave Spring had runners at second and third in the fifth, but Mceachern got a ground out to end the threat.
“We just didn’t get the hits when we needed them today,” Cave Spring head coach Ricky Lonker said after the game.
Patrick Henry continues to make a statement in the River Ridge under first-year head coach Charlie Kuehn.
“Cave Spring is a very good team,” Kuehn noted. “Rob did a great job starting. And, we’ve got 8 seniors, 5 of which are starters. They trust each other and there’s nice chemistry.”
Kuehn agreed that the Patriots are focused on being strong with the fundamentals.
“We work hard to make smart baseball decisions,” Kuehn added. “We focus on making routine plays.”
Flora and Isaac Yeaman led Cave Spring with two hits each.
Bill Turner
