Griffons prevail in extra innings

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Nevada Daily Mail

CLARINDA, IA. ---- The Nevada Griffons emerged from a wild 10th inning with an 8-7 MINK League victory over the Clarinda A's, Friday night in Iowa.

The victory moves the Griffons (18-11 overall, 15-11 MINK League) into a tie for the MINK League south division lead with the Branson Nationals. Branson failed to maintain its one game division lead after getting blanked 6-0 by the Joplin Outlaws, Friday night in Joplin.

Clarinda jumped on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first as a Chase Hamilton single off Griffons starting pitcher Cody Lawson, plated Clayton Daniel. Daniel led off the game reaching safely via an error charged to third baseman Kurt Becker, and later stole second.

Griffons designated hitter Taylor Walker led off the top of the second inning with a single, followed by a Jacob Bryant sacrifice bunt. Bryant's bunt resulted in an error on A's starting pitcher Jordan Dreibelbis, putting Griffons on first and second base.

With one out in the inning, Griffons catcher Chris Kobar smacked a double down the left field line, scoring Walker and Bryant to knot the contest at 2-2.

With the game still tied in the top of the fourth, Walker led off the inning with a single, followed by Bryant reaching base after being hit by a pitch.

Griffons first baseman Cole Johnson grounded back to the pitcher, who threw to third for the force out of Walker for the innings first out. With runners on first and second for Kobar, he again took advantage of the opportunity, with a single past A's third baseman Austin Green and down the left field line. Kobar's second hit of the evening plated both Bryant and Johnson, putting the Griffons on top 4-2.

Errors proved costly for Clarinda, as one in the top of the fifth allowed Nevada center fielder Jamie Graeser to reach base. Graeser later came around to score courtesy of a Dusty Wright RBI single up the middle, handing the Griffons a 5-2 lead.

Griffons relief pitcher Blaine Fisher replaced Lawson in the top of the seventh. The inning was a rocky one for Fisher as well as the Griffons fielding, as Zack Belanger, Mondesi Guiterrez, and Green each touched home plate, to even things up at 5-5. While a Becker error at third base hurt his cause, Fisher only managed to record two outs, and was replaced by Ray Hutchison.

The offense for both sides quieted down over the next two frames, and the game went into extra innings with the score still 5-5.

Graeser led off the top of the 10th reaching base on an error. Becker followed with a walk. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Wright singled. It appeared as though Graeser would be able to score from second, until colliding with A's third baseman Green on the base paths, forcing Graeser to be held up at third.

Griffons manager and third base coach Ryan Mansfield approached the infield umpire and asked for interference to be called on Green. Mansfield didn't stop there, confronting the home plate umpire as well, before getting ejected from the game.

Nevada broke the game open with a Walker bases clearing single, scoring Graeser, Becker, and Wright. An error charged to A's catcher Daniel aided in multiple runs scoring, as the Griffons went in front 8-5.

The A's threatened in the bottom half of the 10th, scoring two runs. However, momentum shifted back to the Griffons when a Graeser throw from center field cut down Dakota Woods at home plate by a wide margin, for the first out of the inning. Hutchison picked up the second out of the inning with a strikeout of Steve Pico Jr. Guiterrez was the game's final out, as the Griffons survived 8-7.

Griffons upcoming schedule and promotions

* July 11: Home doubleheader vs Clarinda, 7 p.m.

* July 12: Home vs. Joplin, 7 p.m., ice cream social fundraiser

* July 13: Doubleheader at Sedalia, 4 p.m.

* July 14: Home vs. Chillicothe, (rescheduled) Housing Authority Fathers' Day Initiative, free Admission; Dollar Dog Night sponsored by Morrison-Post Insurance.

* July 15: Nevada Griffons Lunch on the Square Brown Bag fundraiser, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., next to Cavener's; delivery available

* July 15: Home vs. Chillicothe, 7 p.m.

* July 16: Home vs. Chillicothe, 7 p.m.

* July 17: @ St. Joseph, 7 p.m.

* July 18: Home vs. Branson, 7 p.m., memorabilia auction (Come bid on hats, shirts and other memorabilia signed by your favorite Griffon); Alumni recognition Night.

* July 19: Home vs. Branson, 7 p.m., free admission courtesy of Healthy Nevada, Fan Appreciation Night, free watermelon served; Host Recognition Night; recognition of all host families, past and present.

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