Not even an attempt at changing the luck could help the Emporia AAAs against Blue Valley on Friday the 13th, as the AAAs fell 10-3 in their fourth game of the Blue Springs (Mo.) Wood Bat Tournament.
In an effort to change the team’s fortunes, Emporia coach Ryan Oden turned the third-base coaching duties over to assistant Bret Larison in the second inning.
Emporia scored two runs in Larison’s first frame to tie the game at 3 before Blue Valley recorded seven unanswered runs of its own.
“After that (half-inning) we couldn’t get anything done,” Larison said. “I guess we couldn’t change the karma.”
The last time Larison coached third, Emporia scored 18 runs in three innings against Post 125 on June 22.
The switch wasn’t enough on Friday. Emporia posted just four hits and also committed four errors.
“We didn’t get the little things done, and we didn’t hit the ball well,” Larison said. “It’s a lot of mental things right now. We’re just not playing good baseball.”
Alex Reyes took the loss, as Blue Valley scored three off him in the first and four more in the second.
Joe Solis came on in relief in the fourth.
Emporia was scheduled to play its final game of the tournament at 9 a.m. today.
Friday at Blue Springs, Mo.
Blue Valley 10, Emporia 3
Emporia AAAs 3 4 4
Blue Valley 10 11 4
L — Alex Reyes.