Firebirds blown away in game one, blow away game two

By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

FARMINGTON — The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader between the Farmington Firebirds and the Fulton Railroaders was a typical first-place versus last place result with the Railroaders claiming a 15-2 win, but in game two the 5-22 Firebirds made a game of it before letting the upset get away and Fulton pulled out a second win 8-6 in extra innings.  

The twin killing pushed the Railroaders into a half-game lead in the Kitty League with a record of 19-9.

Newly recruited Dustin Bess took the mound for the Firebirds. Bess a graduate of Fredericktown High School found a familiar opponent in Fulton’s pitcher Jake Donze who graduated from Ste. Genevieve.

Donze kept the upper hand as he again baffled the Firebirds hitters, finally giving up the Firebirds only hit in the sixth inning. In the Kitty League, doubleheaders are two seven-inning games.

The hit was a costly one by Casey Jones because it drove in both of the Firebirds runs.

The Railroaders were stroking the ball with regularity, always coming up with the key hit when runners were in scoring position. Eric Parker hit two, two-RBI doubles one each in the third and fourth innings, and Stuart Meinhart also hit one in the fourth inning.

In the second game, the Firebirds decided to give their regulars some well-deserved time off and started four of their pitchers in fielding positions which in turn provided a more relaxing atmosphere.

Three of the extra pitchers gave delight for the fans in the second inning. With one out Andy Moss walked and Dustin Bess did the same, setting up a drive to the right field fence by Kirk Boeller for a two-RBI triple. Boeller pitched in relief of Bess in the first game for one inning.

The triple made it a 3-2 ball game with Fulton starting the game with four straight hits and three runs in the first inning. Kyle Wampler, Farmington’s pitcher on the mound, settled in and only allowed one run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, before giving way to Patrick Slattery who normally plays first base.

Slattery kept Fulton’s batters silent for two innings, and in the seventh inning removed himself and Wampler from the decision.

The Firebirds received a gift in the bottom of the seventh in Futlon’s relief pitcher who threw 16 balls out of 18 pitches, before he too was lifted. An infield single by Casey Jones drove in a second run and Slattery followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 6-6 with only one out and runners on first and third.

The Firebirds opted to try and drive the run in with the swing instead of pushing for the squeeze. Fulton was able to close out the inning with two strike-outs.  

The Railroaders came up with two walks, two stolen bases and two singles for two runs in the top of the ninth inning, and the Firebirds were unable to answer in their last at-bats.