The Brownlee Lookouts (16u) club responded to a rough start in Thursday night’s tournament game against the Wisconsin Panthers, scoring eight runs in the final two innings to come back from an early 5-0 deficit.
The game ended after six innings due to a two-hour time limit, resulting in an 8-8 tie for the final score. Coincidentally, heavy rain arrived minutes after the game was called.
The way the game started for the Lookouts, a tie was not a bad way to end the day.
The Lookouts received contributions from up and down the lineup in the fifth and sixth innings, as North Canton Hoover outfielder Nick Friedl plated a clutch double to left to get a rally going in the fifth.
It was a big day for Friedl, who hit a homer and a double in the first game on Thursday and had four hits in two games.
“He had kind of a slow start for us, but about two weeks ago, he had a game-winning hit for us in Columbus and ever since then he’s been ripping the cover off the ball,” Lookouts coach Cody Jones said after the game.
“I knew he was a player, but for him to play at the level he’s been these last couple weeks, it’s been amazing. He told me (earlier this season) he knew he could play varsity at Hoover, but he didn’t get a call-up this year. I’m not saying this against them or anything, but he’s had that confidence and he’s come out this summer and showed it against some really good competition.”
Alliance catcher Emma Lopez followed him up and put the Lookouts on the board with a two-run single, making it a 5-2 ballgame, as Braden Olson scored from third and Friedl scored from second.
2-run single from Emma Lopez puts @brownleelookout on the board pic.twitter.com/obmQD0WHC9
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) June 29, 2017
The inning continued with another much-needed RBI single from Tallmadge first baseman Sam Seeker, which trimmed the deficit to two.
Clearfork right handed pitcher AJ Blubaugh found himself in some trouble in the top of the sixth, allowing three runs, but made one of the biggest plays of the day on a high chopper to the right of the mound with runners at first and third.
Blubaugh didn’t appear to have a chance for an out, but leaped in the air, made a bare-handed grab and fired the throw to the plate in one motion to get the lead runner at home, saving a run.
“I wasn’t even expecting a play to be made on that,” Jones said after the game.
“For him to go up like that! AJ may not be real assuming on the mound, but he just shows up and makes plays for us all year long. That play was amazing.”
In a game that would prove to end in a tie, it was a big moment.
Blubaugh’s defense helped him out on the next play, as Friedl made a diving grab in right field and then was able to turn the unorthodox 9-3 double play, getting the out at first base after a runner failed to tag up.
Down 8-3, the Lookouts had quite a bit of work to do, but chipped away in the bottom of the sixth.
Warren Champion’s Andrew Russell started the inning with a single and Friedl delivered again with a single to put two runners on for Devin Turvey.
The Columbiana Crestview utility man drew a walk to load the bases with one out.
Lopez was able to bring a run across for his third RBI of the day, making it an 8-4 game.
Clayton Black delivered a timely single to make it 8-5.
Clayton Black RBI single trims the deficit to 7-5@brownleelookout pic.twitter.com/eguDy7QFJe
— NEO Sports Insiders (@NEOSportsInside) June 29, 2017
The Lookouts used some heads up baserunning and took advantage of a Wisconsin miscue, then moved baserunners over and got two runs across, making it an 8-7 game.
For a game that was a bit out of the ordinary, it was fitting for the game-tying run to score on a balk, and that would be the last run of the day, as the game was called with an 8-8 tie.
Coach Jones was proud of the way his guys battled back.
“I preach to my guys all the time to just play one pitch at a time,” Jones said.
“We preach to not get too up or too down or ride the roller coaster and to just keep playing. We preach quality at-bats, quality innings on the mound and not giving away runs on defense. We did a really good job for the most part. We gave away some runs in that one inning, but we got it to within 5-3 and then gave three runs right back. But my guys just don’t give up,” Jones said.
“Wisconsin is probably one of the best teams that we’ve played this year through 24 games. (The Lookouts are 22-1-1 this summer.) I was real proud of the resilience they showed. It just goes to show that sometimes with teenagers you don’t always think they’re listening, but you know what? They are. They stuck to it.”
One of the interesting aspects of the Lookouts’ roster is the number of players who either won or appeared in State Championships in 2017.
Seeker played a big role on Tallmadge’s Division II State Championship squad and Russell was a member of Warren Champion’s D-III Title team.
Shortstop Andy Miller of Berlin Hiland coincidentally played against Champion in the D-III Final, while Blubaugh and Dylan Jewell played for Clearfork in the state semifinal.
“They carried that confidence with them to this summer and to have these guys not only be members, but be key parts of those teams on state runs, it’s really helped our team be successful,” Jones said.
It’s safe to say with that kind of championship pedigree, the Lookouts have no shortage of leaders in the dugout.
The Lookouts are off Friday but will hope to earn a top eight spot for bracket play this weekend, as they’re back in action for at least two more games on Saturday (9 am and 11:30 am site TBD) with a chance for a third game at 4 pm.
Although it was an uncharacteristic day from Warren Howland right handed starting pitcher Dylan Keller, who tossed a one-hit complete game shutout last week, Jones believes he and the rest of his strong pitching staff give the Lookouts a great chance to get through bracket play.
“For Keller to not have control like he did today was something we haven’t seen. He’s one of my number ones and we’ve got two or three really good guys. With this team and the depth we have with the pitching staff, we’re just trying to be one of those top eight teams and we’ll take our chances against anybody,” the coach said.
Follow the Brownlee Lookouts on Twitter for updates all season long, including schedule information as it arrives this weekend.
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