GOLDEN LEAF INVITATIONAL: Eagles experience extra-inning heart break

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on March 30, 2016 1:48 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

WILSON -- Most action movies peak on cue, leaving little to the viewer's imagination.

True cinema gold, however, borders on the unfathomable at every turn.

Such was the case Tuesday afternoon as Rosewood absorbed the losing end of a classic, albeit shocking, 7-6 nail-biter to Hunt at the Golden Leaf Invitational.

And from the opening credits, it was epic.

Rosewood's dugout choir was deafening, chanting in unison in the early going, and with good reason. The Eagles started with back-to-back singles by Boone Moody and Ethan Chapin, and were followed by third baseman Jonathan Peacock, who cracked an RBI single to center field.

Eagles 2, Warriors 0.

Hunt responded, however, and made the early innings difficult for Eagles' starter Tanner Bradley. Protecting the plate and shrinking the zone, the Warriors drew two walks to start their half of the first. Following an infield single by Jacob Williamson, the bases were loaded for catcher Ty Galloway.

Then the script went off page.

Galloway punched a ground ball to Bradley, who fired to catcher Derek Neal for the force at home. Neal sprinted to position himself and released a laser-cannon shot to first base, completing the seldom-seen 1-2-3 double play.

Hunt would later score two runs to tie the affair after one.

The Eagles collected two more runs in their half of the second, courtesy of an Ethan Chapin RBI single to right field. Hunt responded in kind, and the two schools appeared on their way to an afternoon of run scoring one-upmanship.

But Rosewood's Bradley quickly dispelled any such notion.

He was a puppetmaster over the next four innings, moving Hunt batters around the zone with a variety of pitches that produced more frustration than anything else. The effort, which yielded five hits over six innings, was praised by Rosewood head coach Jason King.

"He's a savvy kid when it comes to the game," King said. "He knew it was time to buckle down, (and) does a great job of getting his ground ball outs."

And Bradley, leading 6-4 after Hayden Amodeo's RBI double in the fifth inning, appeared poised for victory. He ceded the reigns to senior Ethan Chapin, who faced the Warriors' Parker Garris in the seventh with two runners aboard.

The script was then completely abandoned.

Chapin forced Garris into a fly ball to shallow right field, only to have it booted in a game-altering moment of confusion. Hunt's Ty Galloway scored from third base, and a throwing error allowed Thomas Helms to cross, tying the game at six.

Extra innings.

Rosewood retired the Warriors with a litany of easy outs, but lost their early momentum and prowess at the plate. The Eagles struggled versus the power of Jacob Williamson, who was simply dominant. Over 4 1/3 innings of work, the senior allowed no hits and struck out eight batters.

His effort set the stage for the game's final act.

Tucker Chapin, appearing in relief for Rosewood, walked Greg Lamm and faced second baseman Neal Lewis in the bottom of the 11th inning. Lewis worked a solid count and finished a great at-bat with a single to right, advancing Lamm to third base.

Then Hunt, which had shown little aggression on the basepaths all day, released Lamm from the corner post in a dead sprint. As soon as Thomas Helms squared and made contact with Chapin's offering, the game was over.

The Warriors' comeback, unlikely just 45 minutes earlier, was complete.

Rosewood, which finished the Golden Leaf with a 1-2 record, begins Carolina 1-A Conference play next week versus Spring Creek -- a ballclub for which they must be ready.

"Biggest thing is just coming back, not forgetting how this feels," said King, whose team is 8-5 overall this season.

The Eagles likely won't for some time.