by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond
Trailing by four runs heading into the final inning Colonial Heights didn’t panic.
Instead the Colonials embraced the situation.
Colonial Heights scored four runs in the seventh to even the score with Monacan and then in the eighth Kenny Stoneback drove in the winning runs as the Colonials prevailed 6-4 on Tuesday at the L.C. Bird Tournament.
“We’re always a comeback team,” Colonial Heights’ J.D. McCarty said. “We fight till the end, every out no matter what. We have one out left we are still going to be hitting and fighting for the game. That’s how we play, we play comeback baseball.”
Chiefs pitcher Jake Tuzzo dominated the Colonials (3-1) over the first six innings giving up three hits and striking out 10. Tuzzo also hit a solo home run to help Monacan (1-3) go up four.
Josh Faison relieved Tuzzo in the top of the seventh and that is when the Colonial Heights’ offense came to life.
Pinch-hitter Caleb Lee singled, another pinch-hitter Sam Barnes reached on an error and center fielder Hunter Haydon loaded the bases with a single.
Faison struck out the next batter but then hit Stoneback on the hand to force in the Colonials’ first run.
With the bases still loaded McCarty came to the plate and blasted a double off of the center field wall to drive in three runs and tie the contest.
“Just to get one in, do my part and let my man behind me do his part,” said McCarty of his hit. “That’s my job. I try to hit the ball hard and see what happens. Anything can happen when you hit the ball, nothing happens when you strikeout.”
After relief pitcher Jeff Kidd pitched his second straight scoreless inning for Colonial Heights, Stoneback won it for them in the eighth.
With one out, an error allowed Lee to reach first base. A sac bunt moved him to third and two walks loaded the bases.
Chiefs coach Andy Daniel then called on Cam Shaw to take the mound with two outs.
Shaw quickly fell behind Stoneback 2-0 and then forced to throw a strike, Stoneback ripped his next offering up the middle driving in two runs to put the Colonials ahead 6-4.
“I just wanted to do my job, do my part on the team” Stoneback said. “Help out anyway I can.”
McCarty went to the rubber in the bottom of the eighth and closed out the game with a 1-2-3 inning.
Ryan Oliver was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI for Monacan and Michael McCollum went 3 for 4 with a single, double and triple. Shaw finished 2 for 4 with two singles.
Lee was 2 for 2 and scored two runs for the Colonials.
Colonial Heights 000 000 42 – 6 9 3
Monacan 102 010 00 – 4 10 2
Griffith, Kidd (6), McCarty (8) and McCarty, J. Reeves (8); Tuzzo, Faison (7), Shaw (8) and Watts. W: Kidd. L: Faison.
Records: Colonial Heights (3-1); Monacan (1-3)
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