Clutch two-out hitting helps Rebels to 8-4 win

PARK HILLS — The Central Rebels scored six of their eight runs after two outs had been recorded in the respective innings. Garrett Manion limited the Herculaneum Blackcats to only four hits in his six innings on the mound, striking out 12 batters on the way to an 8-4 win for the Rebels.

Manion also supplied much of the Rebels clutch hitting with two of his three doubles coming after two-outs to drive in four runs. Catcher Joey Hagan hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning and RBI singles in the second and sixth innings to drive in three runs.

The Blackcats scored the first run when lead-off hitter Nathan Holland was able to reach second on a Central error, and he scored two batters later when pitcher Aaron Fuller replaced him at second with an RBI double.

Manion answered for the Rebels with a lead-off double just inside the bag at third in the bottom of the second, and he would score on a single by Hagan, before the Blackcats defense closed up the frame with a double play.

 The Blackcats continued the see-saw battle in the third as again a Central error set a runner up at second. Catcher Blake Womacks made it a 3-1 game with a blast over the fence in straight-away center.  

Central tilted the board back to their favor in the bottom of the third. A pair of walks issued to Jake Rhodes and Collin Manion and a single by Derek Mitchell loaded the bases to set the stage for Garrett Manion. With two outs and the runners moving, Manion drove a ball to the fence to clear the bases with his second double giving him the lead for good.

Garrett Manion struck out the side in the fourth and after putting two men on to start the fifth, he did it again. Reid Lucas hit a one-out triple in the fourth and was able to score on Hagan’s sacrifice fly.

Garrett Manion hit his third double in the sixth to score pinch runner Austin Caldwell. Caldwell replaced first baseman Zach Manford who had singled with two outs after Womacks had throw out a runner at first. Caldwell had advanced to second on a wild pitch before Manion’s double.   

Another Central error put the lead-off batter on base again in the seventh, and again the Blackcats were able to take advantage and score the run. Collin Manion who had entered in relief in the seventh struck out two and then caught a towering pop fly to end the game.

Central (5-3) will travel to Farmington today for a conference game.  

Herculaneum  012 000 1 – 4  5  1

Central  013 112 x – 8   12  3

WP- Garrett Manion 6i 3r 4h 12k 4bb 2 hb, LP- Aaron Fuller 4i 5r 6h 3k 3bb 1hb.

HITTING:

Herculaneum – Blake Womacks 2-3, Aaron Fuller 2-4, Cody Petero 1-3.  HR- Womacks, 2b- Womacks, Fuller.

Central – Derek Mitchell 3-3, Garrett Manion 3-4, Joey Hagan 2-3, Reid Lucas 1-2, Anthony Quinton 1-2, Josh Scherffius 1-3, Zach Manford 1-4. 3b- Lucas, 2b- G. Manion 3, Mitchell.