The Emporia A-15s rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth inning to take an 11-10 victory over the A-16s in an eight-inning exhibition game Thursday.
The contest was played without umpires and also with loose rules, as A-16s pitchers threw for both teams in the early innings.
Trailing 10-8 in the last inning, the 15s’ Adam Ewy reached on an error, and Remington Pinick and Matt Weatherhead followed with one-out singles.
After a strikeout, Nate Flanagin delivered the game-winning hit, a two-run double to center to give the 15s an 11-10 advantage.
Brett Lechien pitched a perfect bottom of the eighth to hold the lead.
Flanagin led the A-15s offensively, going 2-for-4 with two double and two RBI. Weatherhead also added a pair of hits.
Dylan Smith paced the A-16s, going 4-for-5 with four RBI. Bryan Little contributed three hits, including a triple.
The A-16s travel to Kansas City, Kan., for a doubleheader on Saturday, while the A-15s will play at Manhattan on Sunday.
Thursday at Emporia
A-15s 11, A-16s 10
A-15s 023 010 23 — 11 9 1
A-16s 410 023 00 — 10 8 3
2B — A-15s: Nate Flanagin 2; A-16s: Josh Posey, Dylan Smith. 3B — A-16s: Bryan Little. SB — A-15s: Brian Keisler, Jacob Loucks, Ethan Hall, Adam Ewy 2, Matt Weatherhead, Matt Fry 2; A-16s: Derek Nielsen, Chase Speer, Derek Krause 2.
Emporia A-15 highlights — Nate Flanagin 2-4, 2 2B, R, 2 RBI, SB; Matt Weatherhead 2-3, R, SB, BB.
Emporia A-16 highlights — Dylan Smith 4-5, 2B, 4 RBI, R; Bryan Little 3-5, 3B, 2R.
AAAs’ game with
Junction City canceled
The Emporia AAAs had Thursday’s scheduled game with Junction City canceled. The two teams instead will play a doubleheader on July 19 in Emporia and another twinbill on July 21 in Junction City.
The AAAs open play in their home Mike’s Classic tonight at 8 against Lansing.