WEST LAFAYETTE — Byron Cox Post 72 traveled Thursday to West Lafayette to play rival Lafayette Post 11. Scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning and then surviving a Lafayette comeback, Crawfordsville won 7-6.
Both teams scored runs early leading to a 4-4 score after three innings. The score remained the same until Post 72 scored the runs in their last at-bat.
A one-out single by Peyton Grimmett followed by Kyven Smith reaching base on an error started off the seventh inning rally. Keaton Brown came to bat and delivered an RBI single to put Post 72 up 5-4.
After an intentional walk was issued to Cayden Scott and a strikeout, Aiden Ambriz-Cruz received a bases loaded full count walk forcing in a run. A passed ball resulted in Brown coming home to make the score 7-4 in favor of Crawfordsville.
Lafayette did not go down without a fight. Post 11 scored two runs and had the tying run on base with two outs. M Berry hit a single to right field, but Lopez was thrown out trying to reach third to end the game allowing Post 72 to escape Tippecanoe County with a win.
Aiden Riser and Grimmett each went 2-for-4 at the plate. Grimmett had two RBI. Smith also had two hits for Post 72,
Crawfordsville’s Dillon Heaton earned the win. The pitcher allowed four hits and four runs. The righty struck out five and walked one in six innings. Riser earned a save by pitching the final inning.
Lopez took the loss. The Frankfort graduate pitched 6.2 innings surrendering 11 hits and striking out five.
Post 72 (5-1) played Watseka, Illinois Post 23 Friday at their home field at North Montgomery High School. Manager Kyle Proctor’s squad travels Sunday to Rantoul, Illinois for a doubleheader.
