​Eagles Rally Late To Get Comeback Win Against Indians

by John Unrein
 
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     Strong spring wind gusts often accompany the onset of warm weather in the Midwest. The outfield flags were blowing from right field to left field with up to 40 mph wind gusts as the Grain Valley Eagles paid a visit to the Fort Osage Indians on April 26th. The conditions made fielding fly balls and pop ups an adventure at times during the contest.
     Grain Valley middle infielders Avery Garmon and Parker Bosserman used the wind to their advantage in securing key runs batted in for the Eagles in their 4-3 comeback win against the Indians. Garmon was the first to deliver in the top of the third inning. The Eagles second baseman selected a pitch he could elevate to score Alex Snyder from third base on the sacrifice fly, providing Grain Valley an early lead.
     Bosserman would follow suit in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded. The Eagles shortstop would jump on the first pitch he saw and lifted a fly ball a mile high that twisted in the wind to land safely between third base and left field. The base hit was Bosserman’s third of the day and scored outfielders Snyder and Parker Stone. Bosserman continues to show a knack for connecting with fastballs in at-bats.
     “I adjusted my hands (on the bat) at the plate and looked for something I could lift. The ball took off enough to score Alex (Snyder). It was great to see the smiles on the faces of my teammates afterwards,” Garmon said.
     Bosserman added, “I was looking to be selective and possibly walk in my final at-bat. Instead, I went after the first pitch I saw, and the wind helped me with the rest. The baseball landed in a perfect spot and we got to continue our rally. Yep, I seem to be pulling everything at the plate right now.”
     Accompanying the Eagles offensive success was the starting pitching of Cole Keller on the mound. The senior hurler would give up two earned runs across five innings while striking out six and walking three. Keller would lean on his fastball when he needed to throw strikes and challenge hitters. Equally as impressive was the pick off of a Fort Osage baserunner at second base in the bottom of the first inning by Keller.
     “The strike zone was tight today and that made me focus on where I placed my pitches. It worked out well in that I threw strikes. I was impressed with the way Kaden (Jeffries) pitched in relief. The catch that Alex (Snyder) made at the end of the game was big for us as well. He is a young guy on this team that is stepping up to help his team win,” Keller said.
     Grain Valley third baseman Riley Bown would support Keller on the mound with a nifty defensive play in the bottom of the second inning. Bown would get his body in front of a hard hit grounder only to have it bounce off his forearm before picking up the ball and firing it to first base to record the out.
     Bown would not be alone in providing defensive gems for the Eagles. Snyder would record the last out of the game on a dead sprint towards the fence in right center field. The sophomore would put his outstretched glove on the ball just in time. Snyder took the correct route towards the baseball from the first step of his read while battling the sun and wind. Both Bown and Snyder drew loud applause from Grain Valley fans in attendance for their efforts.
     Eagles head baseball coach Brian Driskell admitted he did not know what to expect heading into the final inning as the energy level did not feel at high level amongst his team. The calm demeanor of Driskell’s team turned out to be a business like approach of finishing out the ball game. One that moved the Eagles record to 14-6 on the season and left Driskell happy with the outcome.
     “I did not think that Cole was at his best from start to finish, but he was really, really good there for three to four innings before he got tired near the end of his outing. He competed well with the tighter strike zone. Kaden (Jeffries) came in and threw hard late in the game to close things out as well,” Driskell said.
     “I think I may have cost us a few runs today at third base in my judgment of sending runners. Both Avery (Garmon) and Parker (Bosserman) picked me up, so that was big. Garmon saw the ball well today. Bosserman is a case of where the rich keep getting richer. He has a high average that will continue after his bloop hit that followed two scorchers.”
     Driskell concluded, “That was an outstanding play by Alex Snyder there at the end of the game. We talk a lot about if you cannot help yourself offensively, then you help yourself defensively. That saved the game and was as big as hitting a grand slam. That was a massive play.”

Right fielder Alex Snyder makes a well timed catch for the last out of the game.
Photo credit: John Overstreet

Starting pitcher Cole Keller delivers the ball from the mound.
​Photo credit: John Overstreet

Second baseman Avery Garmon advances to third base.
​Photo credit: John Overstreet