Falcons win gut-check game with Washington
REPUBLIC — The Brownsville Falcons moved into a tie for second place in Section 2-AA going eight innings to edge Washington 5-4 Tuesday afternoon at Redstone Field.
Jacob Rechichar delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth with a single to drive in Devin Braddock. Rechichar had a big day out of the number nine slot with three hits and three RBI.
Ryan Novotney pitched the win for the Falcons by throwing all eight innings, striking out 10, despite running into trouble in the sixth, allowing the Little Prexies to pick up three runs to tie the game.
“We were cruising 4-1 and you got to start putting guys away,” a relieved Brownsville coach Skooter Roebuck said. “We gave up a couple of walks and had an error and gave some runs away in the sixth.”
In that sixth inning, Novotney ran into control problems with two outs, walking three straight batters to load the bases. A ground ball to third that could have ended the inning was dropped to allow a run to score and keeping the bases still loaded. Jordan West singled to drive in two more to tie the score.
Brownsville (7-2, 7-4) took a 1-0 lead in the first. With Shane Roebuck at third and Tucker Pritts at first running for Ryan Novotney, Pritts broke for second and Roebuck scored on a delayed steal.
Washington (6-2, 8-4) tied the game in the top of the second. Kurt Adkins laid down a bunt and ended up at third when the throw to first went into right field. He scored on a squeeze bunt by Connor Bedillion.
The Falcons came back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Ken Ryan was hit by a pitch and Bryce “Cuzzy” Shea singled. With one out, Rechichar singled driving in Ryan. Cole Novotney singled to drive in Shea.
They added another run in the fourth. Taylor May drew a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Zach Bashour. A wild pitch allowed Bashour to move to second. Rechichar singled to drive in the run giving Brownsville a 4-1 lead.
“My kids came back a long way, but you have to give Novotney credit. He gutted it out today,” Washington coach Rocky Plassio said. “He ran into some trouble in the sixth and gave us a couple of runs. In a game like this the margin of error is so small. Brownsville was the better team today and they deserved the win.”
After Washington tied the game in the sixth, they threatened in the seventh with runners at second and third with two-out. Novotney got the strikeout to end the threat.
Novotney retired the Little Prexies in order in the top of the eighth and started Brownsville winning push with a double to lead off the bottom half of the inning. He was replaced by Pritts. And error on a pickoff attempt allowed Pritts to move to third. Braddock was intentionally walked. With one out, Shea drew a walk to load the bases. May’s ground ball forced Pritts at the plate leaving the bases loaded with two out. That set the stage for Rechichar’s game-winner.
“We didn’t play well at Chartiers-Houston last week and they beat us,” Roebuck said. “They have one loss and we have two, along with Washington. Anything can happen in the second half. We’ve just got to keep playing.”