If there was a positive from the Eagles season, there is no doubt it is the cohesion that formed toward the end of the season.

Tyrone headed into the playoffs on a three game winning streak and all the momentum that they could ask for. Tyrone had already defeated tough playoff bound teams seeded higher than Richland as recently as last week.

Heading into their duel with the Richland Rams, Tyrone had nothing to lose and all the world to gain.

Tyrone started the game slow in the first inning when 2 of their 4 batters in the inning struck out with a man on second base.

Matt Brenneman pitched an ideal bottom of the inning and Tyrone was up to the plate again in the second in a scoreless game.

Brenneman started the second inning with a single up the middle and Drew Hunter drove in Andrew Pearson (courtesy running for Brenneman the pitcher), putting Tyrone up 1-0.

Brenneman again posted another scoreless inning in the bottom of the second to give Tyrone the opportunity to boost their lead in the third inning.

However at the top of the order Tyrone struggled yet again, as Richland starting pitcher Jonny Kutchman struck out the side for a quick inning.

In the bottom of the inning, Kutchman responded at the plate with a RBI single up the middle to tie the game.

Tyrone looked to retake the lead time and time again but squandered opportunities.

Richland however did not. The Rams pounded Brenneman in the fifth inning for six hits and five runs which would eventually seal the game.  The first seven Richland batters reached in the fifth as junior Cory Faight, senior Andrew Frear and Kutchman all singled off Brenneman, then senior Andy Pasko was hit by a pitch, and the next two batters singled.

Tyrone’s Brian Gunter then came in as relief to stop the scoring and finish the game, but the previously hot Tyrone offense cooled off after the fifth.

Richland had a total 6 hits accompanied with 3 Tyrone errors to score 7 runs.

Tyrone had a total of 3 hits with 1 error to circle 1 run.

While not ending the season the way they would have wished, Tyrone showed what it’s made of in the final games of the season by continuing to fight and fight well under the leadership of several talented seniors.

As sportscaster Bryant Gumbel once said, “Other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love.”

SCORE BY INNINGS

Tyrone: 010 000 0-1 6 1

Richland: 001 150 X-7 9 3

WP-Kutchman. LP-Brenneman.

Records: Tyrone (7-12); Richland (15-5).