Faced with keeping its season alive, the Emporia Legion A-15s nearly erased an eight-run deficit Saturday against Olathe East at the Zone Tournament in Lawrence.
Emporia came within a hair of completing the rally, but a fine defensive effort by Olathe East’s second baseman robbed Adam Ewy of a potential game-tying hit, instead sending Emporia to a 9-7 loss and the end of its season.
“That game was a battle,” Emporia coach Dick Evans said. “It was a fun game to watch — it was very exciting. That’s how I want the boys to play.”
With Olathe East holding a two-run lead in the seventh and final frame, Ewy stepped up to the plate for the A-15s with two outs and runners on second and third. Ewy smacked a hard-hit ball into the gap to the left of East’s second baseman, and it appeared Emporia would get the tying run across.
But the defender made a diving stop, robbing Ewy of the hit and ending the game with the throw to first for the final out.
“Adam did his job. He put the ball in play,” Evans said. “Their second baseman just made a nice play to save the game for them.”
The A-15s were that close to completing the comeback after East jumped out to a 9-1 lead after the fourth inning thanks to a grand slam home run.
“We got into some trouble — we gave up some walks and some seeing-eye singles — and then a guy hits a grand slam,” Evans said. “That put us in a pretty big hole.”
But Emporia scored a run in the sixth to make it 9-2, and then the A-15s plated five more in the seventh before Ewy stepped up to the plate.
“Our guys never gave up,” Evans said. “Everybody in the lineup contributed here and there, and this team does really well when the entire team participates. Everybody did their job.”
Emporia ended its season with a 17-13 record and without a trip to the State Tournament.
However, Evans said no matter what, the season was a success in his eyes.
“We had a real positive season,” he said. “I have absolutely nothing but positive feelings with how our season went and how the boys progressed and what they’ll do for Legion baseball in the future.
“I think we’re going to see a lot of good baseball out of these boys over the next four years.”