Eagles advance to Regional Semifinals

May 19, 2014 @ Anna Jonesboro, Regional Quarter-Final

The Eagles kicked off post-season play with a visit to Anna-Jonesboro to take on the Wildcats.

The Eagles went down in order in the top of the 1st inning.  AJ got a single and a walk to open the game, but a pair of groundouts and popup ended the threat.

In the Eagle 2nd inning, Christian Dahncke led off with a double down the left field line but was stranded at second base when the next three Eagles went down swinging.

AJ got two runners on again in the second inning and left them both after a lineout to center field.

Lane Wright worked a walk to lead off the 3rd inning for the Eagles and was sacrificed to second base by Austin Krelo.  After a Dylan Graves walk and a strikeout, Tylour Daubert singled off of the pitcher’s glove to load the bases.  Dahncke took a four pitch walk to force in the first run of the game.

The Eagles left the bases loaded but took a 1-0 lead to the bottom of the inning.  AJ quickly threatened again in the 3rd inning.  After a single and a ground rule double, the Cats tied the game a on groundball that was misplayed.

So with the no outs, the score tied, and Cats on first and second base, Eagle pitcher Dylan Graves took over.  He struck out the next three batters on ten consecutive fastballs and the threat was averted.  Graves would go on to retire the next twelve AJ batters in order.

The Eagles broke the tie in the top of the 5th inning.  Graves led off with a walk and stole second base.  He advanced to third base on a great bunt down the third base line by Blake Crain that saw Crain narrowly nipped at first base by a great play.  Tylour Daubert drove a 1-0 fastball over the third basemen to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

The Eagles threatened with the first two batters reaching in the 6th inning, but left them both stranded.  Graves did the rest on the mound, earning his second victory of the season.  He pitched the complete game allowing just the one run on three hits, he struck out eight and walked three.

The Eagles advance to face Murphysboro on Thursday @ 4:30 at Carterville.

The Regional Final will be played at 10 a.m. on Saturday vs. the winner of the Harrisburg/Carterville game.