After getting ejected in the second inning, Emporia A-15s coach Dick Evans first punishment was having to leave the dugout.
His greater punishment was having to helplessly watch his team from behind the dugout, as the 15s gave one away in a 7-6 loss to Neosho Valley in Game Two of a doubleheader Tuesday night.
“It’s kind of a sad deal when you sort of hope that you don’t win the ballgame,” Evans said, “because we certainly didn’t deserve it.”
Emporia had four errors, gave up nine walks and mustered just three hits, all of which contributed to one of the most frustrating losses of the season.
The A-15s took a 10-2 run-rule victory in the first game.
“We just didn’t play as a team,” Emporia infielder Jacob Loucks said. “We tried to fend for ourselves.”
Even with all the miscues, the 15s still had every opportunity to win it in the bottom of the seventh.
Emporia trailed 7-5 entering its final at-bat, but Loucks led off with a walk. Matt Fry followed by swinging through strike three in the dirt, but he reached safely when catcher Zack Nowell made a throwing error to first.
Ethan Hall battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk and load the bases, and a wild pitch scored Loucks to close the gap to 7-6.
With runners on second and third and no one out, the 15s failed to get the tying run home. Brian Keisler struck out swinging, and Nick Hrabik popped up an attempted squeeze that was caught by Nowell.
Remington Pinick ended the game with a three-pitch strikeout.
“We had some really bad at-bats — some non-thinking at-bats,” Evans said.
Neosho Valley grabbed the early lead with four runs in the first. Only two of those tallies were earned, as the 15s committed three errors in the first inning alone.
“They weren’t even difficult plays,” Evans said. “I’m not happy.”
Evans was ejected in the second inning after arguing an out call at first base.
The 15s didn’t play well without him. Emporia didn’t have a hit after the third inning and failed to take advantage of five Neosho Valley walks in the final three frames.
“It’s not like they really deserved it,” Evans said, “but they took advantage of our mistakes more than we did theirs.”
Loucks, Fry and Keisler had the three Emporia hits.
Interestingly, the game was delayed for 15 minutes in the first inning after the infield sprinklers started and couldn’t be turned off.
Emporia used a consistent offensive attack to take the runaway victory in Game One.
After giving up two runs in the top of the first, the A-15s tied it in the bottom half of the frame.
Adam Ewy and Loucks led off with consecutive singles, and both came home on errors by Neosho Valley.
The same two started Emporia’s two-run third, as Ewy was hit by a pitch and Loucks singled to right. Both scored on consecutive RBI groundouts from Fry and Hall.
Emporia posted three in the fourth and three more in the fifth to enforce the run-rule.
Loucks’ two-run double was the key hit in the fourth, and the 15s plated their three runs in the fifth with the help of two walks and three hit-by-pitches.
“We know we’re capable,” Loucks said. “We just didn’t do it in the second game.”
Meanwhile, Emporia’s Brett Lechien and Ewy combined to allow just one Neosho Valley hit — a first-inning single by Ethan Graham.
Lechien picked up the win, working around five walks in his 3 1/3 innings.
Loucks led the offense, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI.
“I’ve been doing a lot better,” Loucks said. “Coach Evans has helped me with my batting style and keeping my hands high, and I’ve been driving the ball farther.”
Ewy also scored three runs.
Neosho Valley, which featured several area players, was led by Madison’s Henry Ott in Game Two. He went 2-for-3 with a double and sacrifice and also picked up the win on the mound.
Olpe’s Josh Lambert and Southern Coffey County’s Trevor Smith also played for Neosho Valley.
The A-15s (13-11) will play host to Lawrence on Thursday.
Tuesday at Emporia
Game One
Emporia 10, Neosho Valley 2
Neosho Valley 200 00X X — 2 1 3
Emporia A-15s 202 33X X — 10 6 2
W — Brett Lechien. L — Alex Campbell. Sv — Adam Ewy.
2B — Emporia: Jacob Loucks. SB — Neosho Valley: Henry Ott, Trevor Smith; Emporia: Jacob Loucks 2, Ethan Hall.
Emporia A-15 highlights — Jacob Loucks 3-3, 2B, 3R, 2 RBI; Adam Ewy 1-1, 3R, BB, HBP; Nate Flanagin 1-2, BB, HBP; Matt Fry 1-3, 2 RBI.
Game Two
Neosho Valley 7, Emporia 6
Neosho Valley 402 000 1 — 7 6 5
Emporia A-15s 203 000 1 — 6 3 4
W — Henry Ott. L — Malik Sommers.
2B — Neosho Valley: Henry Ott. 3B — Neosho Valley: Ben Burke.
Emporia A-15 highlights — Matt Fry 1-2, 2R, SB, 2 BB; Jacob Loucks 1-3, SB, 2R; Brian Keisler 1-3, R, BB.