Game one of Washington School’s doubleheader against Bayou Academy on Thursday had more heroic moments from the Generals than a Marvel summer blockbuster.
Washington won the game on a suicide squeeze play in the bottom of the eighth inning when John Chandler Lyles bunt drove home Hunter Trussell.
Two of the leading roles in Washington’s 13-12 victory were played by pitchers Patrick Spencer and Peyton McPherson.
Spencer, a sophomore who can throw the ball more than 92 miles per hour, started Thursday’s contest a little shaky and needed to be replaced in the first inning. Spencer never let his head down, however; he came back into the game when his team needed him the most and pitched two strong innings to get the save.
“I have faith in all my guys especially Patrick,” said Washington coach Hunter Palasini. “When he throws it in the zone nobody can hit it. One of the most electric arms in the state. He showed a lot of character. They were hounding him and he came back in there, and got it done.”
Spencer’s save would not have been possible without the gutty effort of senior pitcher Peyton McPherson. McPherson was brought in to pitch during the first inning and gave his team six crucial innings. McPherson may not have been perfect, but he did more than enough.
“He battled,” Coach Palasini said. “He is a senior and he came in and battled all night. He gave us a chance.”
After Spencer pitched an almost flawless top of the eighth inning, Coach Palasini made the decision for the squeeze play in the bottom of the eighth after the Generals had loaded the bases.
“He (Lyles) is one of our best bunters, and I actually gave him the signal when I went to home plate to argue the previous play. They got some of our signs and they kind of know our system, so I didn’t want them to know what we were doing.”
After allowing three Colt runs in the top of the first inning, the Generals scored the next 12 runs in the game.
Washington’s Brayden Harmon led the Generals with two doubles and five RBI, and Harper Ross led Washington with three runs. Harmon’s first double came in the bottom of the first inning to put Washington School up 5-3.
A double by Joseph Smith to left field put the Generals up 10-3 in the bottom of the third inning.
John Chandler Lyles finished the night with two hits, two runs and two RBI.
The Colts came back by scoring three runs in the fourth inning, four runs in the fifth inning and two runs in the seventh inning.
Bayou’s offense was led by Jack Cartwright (home run), Hayes Holman, and Parker Harris.
Bayou Academy 16, Washington School 8 (Game 2)
The Bayou Academy offense proved too much for the Generals in the second game of the doubleheader Thursday night.
The two teams were tied heading into the top of the fifth inning when the Colts took the lead for good on a Ben Malloy double.
The Generals mounted three runs in the top of the sixth inning to cut the Bayou lead to two runs when Harper Ross and Peyton McPherson drove in runs.
But, the Bayou would put the game away when it scored six runs in the seventh inning.
The victory late Thursday night meant that the Colts had won the series over Washington by three games to two. Bayou defeated Washington 5-3 on Tuesday night.
