Even with the bases loaded in a tie game, Brett Lechien said he wasn’t surprised he got Barry Bonds treatment in the batter’s box.
“I didn’t think they were going to throw anything to me,” Lechien said. “They hadn’t thrown anything to me all game.”
Lechien’s third free pass of the day ended up being the biggest for the Emporia A-16 Blues on Wednesday.
Lechien’s bases-loaded walk forced in the lead run, and he later closed out the contest by pitching the final inning in Emporia’s 11-10 Game Two victory over Salina.
The Blues also won the first game, 8-4.
If Emporia coach Dick Evans ever needed an illustration of the importance of bunting and defense, he got it on Wednesday night.
The Blues were outhit in both games but still managed wins. Emporia had four bunts for basehits and committed just two errors (Salina had 13).
“Actually, I’m not real happy about the two errors, but I certainly wouldn’t be happy if we had as many errors as they did,” Evans said. “They kind of handed us that game. We put the ball in play, and they made mistakes.”
“That was the changing point,” Lechien said of the errors. “They booted the ball for us, and we took advantage of it.”
In Game Two, Emporia led 10-5 heading into the sixth before Salina batted around, scoring five runs to tie it at 10.
Lechien helped stop the bleeding in that inning, relieving pitcher Ethan Hall and getting out of the jam by picking off Jared Robl at first.
In the bottom of the sixth, Zach Nowell reached on a one-out error, and after a single from Flanagin, Matt Fry walked to load the bases.
After a flyout, Lechien stepped to the plate with the bases full and two outs.
“I was looking to drive it right up the gap,” Lechien said.
He’d never get the chance, walking on five pitches to score Nowell from third.
Evans elected to pitch Lechien in the seventh instead of his normal closer Jacob Loucks, who had been used in the first game.
His faith was rewarded, as Lechien worked around a one-out walk to close out the contest.
“It was important to this team — it was certainly important to me — to not have to use Jacob in that situation,” Evans said. “It was important to show Brett the confidence we have in him and see him respond to it.”
Flanagin led the Blues’ bats, going 3-for-3 with a walk and two RBI.
In the first game, Emporia won in large part because it played better defense.
The Blues once again were outhit (6-5) but didn’t commit any errors. Salina, meanwhile, had six miscues.
“Our defense helped us out a lot tonight. We made the plays and kept them from scoring,” Flanagin said. “ ... When we don’t make those errors, we can hold them back and win these really close games.”
Fry and Hall started Emporia’s offense in the first, as both drew walks and later scored on an error by Salina center fielder Clay Koochel.
The Blue squad used small ball effectively in the second, as Fry and Lechien both bunted for hits to start a two-run rally.
Nowell and Hall picked up the RBI.
Emporia’s final four runs came in the fourth, with Nowell picking up the key hit — a two-run double off the left-field wall.
Adam Ewy picked up the win, allowing three runs in five innings. He walked none and struck out two.
Loucks pitched the final two innings, allowing just a single run.
Emporia picked up the home sweep after splitting with Salina in the first doubleheader of the summer.
The Blue squad will face Lansing tonight in a home twinbill — a change from the original schedule that had the team facing Junction City.
Emporia’s scheduled doubleheader against Lansing on Monday has been canceled.
Wednesday at Soden’s Grove
Game One
Emporia Blues 8, Salina 4
Salina 000 120 1 — 4 6 6
Emporia Blues 220 400 X — 8 5 0
W — Adam Ewy. L — Derek Kriar.
2B — Emporia: Zach Nowell, Jacob Loucks. SB — Salina: Travis Dolan, Clay Koochel, Trey Dallas, Cole Dabolt 2; Emporia: Matt Fry, Ethan Hall, Nate Flanagin. Emporia Blues highlights — Matt Fry 2-3, SB, RBI, 2R; Zach Nowell 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI, R; Jacob Loucks 1-3, 2B; Brett Lechien 1-2, R.
Game Two
Emporia Blues 11, Salina 10
Salina 021 115 0 — 10 11 7
Emporia Blues 033 311 X — 11 10 2
W — Brett Lechien. L — Jared Robl.
2B — Salina: Spencer Baird, Moore; Emporia: Henry Ott. SB — Salina: Travis Dolan; Emporia: Adam Ewy, Jacob Loucks, Ott, Nate Flanagin, Bryne Gonzales. Emporia Blues highlights — Brett Lechien 1-3, 2 BB, GW RBI; Nate Flanagin 3-3, SB, 2 RBI; Henry Ott 2-4, 2B, SB, RBI, R; Jacob Loucks 2-3, SF, R, 2 RBI; Adam Ewy 2-5, 2R.