Expos hand Rangers first loss of season

PARK HILLS – Saturday was a very cloudy and slightly rainy day as the Park Hills Expos hosted the North County Rangers. Park Hills scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back from there as the Expos came out on top 7-1.

Jacob Rhodes started the bottom of the first inning on a positive note with a double. After Collin Manion came through with a single, Rhodes scored on a wild pitch for a quick 1-0 edge. A fielder’s choice moved Manion to third base and a RBI single by Levi Ragsdale doubled the Expos’ lead.

Ragsdale stole second base and later tried for third. The pick-off throw to third base was wild and Ragsdale safely reached home for a 3-0 game.

With baserunners on second and third in the bottom of the second inning, Manion hit a pop-fly deep enough to center field to score another run. Riley Calvird followed with a RBI single for a 5-0 lead.

Ryan Gibson kicked off the bottom of the third inning with a base hit. After a fielder’s choice and a single from Blake Nephew, Joshua Cheek hit a ground ball to score Gibson.

The bases were loaded for the Expos in the fourth inning when Ragsdale reached the plate on a wild pitch to hand his team their seventh and final tally of the game.

The Rangers broke the shutout in the fifth inning. With two men on base and two outs, Garrett Coffman drilled a double to knock in North County’s lone run of the contest.

Coffman was 3-3 at the plate and Eric Thompson made a pair of singles for the Rangers. Rhodes, Calvird, and Ragsdale were all 2-3 for the Expos.

Rangers – 000 010 – 1

Expos – 321 10x – 7

WP – Rhodes 2i 3h 0bb.