Vine Ingle forces deciding game at WRALL

The not-so-shocking event Thursday at Warner Robins American Little League: a weather delay.

In a bit of a shocking turn of events, one more game is needed to determine the Georgia District 5 champion of 9-10 baseball.

Vine Ingle National of Macon, one night after eliminating Warner Robins American West in the final loser’s bracket game, came from behind to defeat the previously unbeaten Warner Robins American East 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Not only did the WRALL East trail in a game for the first time in the week-long event, but it was also held to single-digit runs by a Vine Ingle team it defeated on Monday 10-2. The two clubs will meet for a third and final time at 4 p.m. today (Saturday) to decide the district winner and state tournament qualifier.

Before a pitch could be thrown Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. start, officials sent all players out of the dugouts and to sheltered areas. Areas of the playing field were covered in time before a brief but significant rainstorm – complete with lightning – fell throughout Houston County.

The game began roughly an hour late, and as usual Warner Robins East played as the visiting team, and as usual posted a first-inning score total. It was a 2-0 lead for the hosts after the first frame, and then Clifford Pless singled with two outs in the top of the second for a 3-run advantage.

Starting pitcher Trent Ringer allowed two Vine Ingle baserunners in the bottom half, but left both stranded.

The Warner Robins offense found it tough to score the rest of the way, and it was apparent Vine Ingle’s bats were getting warm with a double and home run in the third inning.

Ringer kept WR East in front 3-2 going into the fourth, but Vine Ingle’s momentum carried over defensively. WR East had a chance to score, but Vine Ingle’s infield took a chance on a force play at home and got it in time.

It was in the bottom of the fourth that Vine Ingle strung two two-out doubles together to knot things up 3-3.

In the fifth, WR East was back in business with two baserunners and one out, but the VI National infield executed another force, this one at third base, to keep the game even. The Macon contingent then manufactured the go-ahead run in the home half, the score coming on a two-out infield hit.

Walker Young of WR East, who earlier turned his first chance at second base into a first-pitch out, was the pinch-runner for Scott Rhodes, who drew a one-out sixth-inning walk. Gage Harrelson batted with two down and kept the rally going by beating out an infield hit.

A.J. Simpson stood in and put the baseball in play. Vine Ingle bobbled it enough for Young to score and Simpson to reach. WR East could only tie the game 4-4, however, and in the home half VI National opened with back-to-back singles and brought in the one necessary runner to win.

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