Lexington juniors split wins in doubleheader against Hastings
The Lexington Heartland Chevrolet juniors split wins against Hastings July 7 in Hastings.
Lexington came up short in the first game, falling 12-7.
In the second game, Lexington held Hastings off to win 5-4.
GAME 2
Lexington got two runners on in the top of the first inning, but couldn't score after Mason Velasquez flew out to center field.
Hastings took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Liam Denker started the second inning with a ground ball hit down the first base line and reached on an error.
Lexington got a second runner on after Brody Green singled on a grounder to center field.
Denker scored the tying run after stealing home during Oliver Fellers at bat. Fellers got on with a ground ball to right field.
The bases were loaded for Lexington after Jared Hernandez drew a walk.
Toran Kjar swung on a 2-2 count to put the ball into action, hitting a line drive to center field. Green scored to put Lexington up 2-1.
Kannon Lange hit a ground ball into fielder's choice, putting Fellers across home. Kjar got out advancing to second base.
The top of the second inning closed after Drexton Edeal grounded out to third base.
A fly ball to right field gave Hastings two runs scored to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the second.
Velasquez earned a spot at first after a line drive to left field, but was left on base after Hastings picked up three straight outs.
Anthony Martinez gave up a walk and a single but a Lexington double play kept Hastings from scoring in the third.
Lexington took the lead in the top of the fourth after Fellers scored on Hernandez's double base hit to left field.
Hernandez scored to put Lexington up 5-3 during Edeal's at bat.
Edeal grounded into a double play that got himself and Kjar out.
Velasquez grounded out to close the half-inning.
Lexington went three up and three down in the bottom of the fourth.
Hastings returned a three up and three out, staying within two runs of Lexington.
Kjar took the mound to start the bottom of the fifth for Lexington. He pitched a strikeout before giving up a walk.
Denker claimed the second out after throwing down the runner on second base.
The fifth inning closed out after Kjar earned a second strikeout.
Fellers and Kjar drew walks in the top of the sixth, but Lexington couldn't score with Lange hitting into a double play.
Kjar gave up a walk then hit the second batter by pitch to give Hastings two runners on.
Lexington earned two straight outs after Kjar pitched back-to-back strikeouts.
A single line drive hit gave Hastings a run scored, pulling behind 5-4.
The sixth inning closed after Lexington got the third out at home.
Velasquez got on with a single base hit to center field with one out.
Denker grounded out and Martinez popped out in foul territory.
After giving up a walk on a hit by pitch, Lexington got the first out as Angel Ruiz caught a pop fly in right field.
Kjar gave up a second walk before pitching back-to-back strikeouts to end the game with Lexington winning 5-4.
GAME 1
Lexington took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning before Hastings scored three runs to take the lead in the first.
Hernandez got on with a single base hit to center field before Kjar lined into a double play in the top of the second.
Hastings took a 5-2 lead after scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second.
Lange started the third inning with a single before Edeal lined out to left field.
Velasquez and Denker drew walks to get the bases loaded.
Green grounded out, but the hit put Lange across home. Lexington came behind 5-3.
Velasquez scored on a wild pitch, pulling Lexington behind 5-4. Benny Dones grounded out to end the top of the third.
Velasquez pitched two strikeouts in the bottom of the third.
Kaden Barkmeier started the fourth inning with a walk before Hernandez drew a walk.
Kjar was hit by a pitch to give Lexington bases loaded.
Lange drew a walk that put Barkmeier across home to tie the game at 5-5.
Lexington took the lead 6-5 after Hernandez scored on Edeal's ground ball hit.
Hastings picked up two outs on Edeal's double play hit.
Velasquez hit a single base line drive to left field that put Lange across home.
Fellers hit a line drive that got Velasquez out advancing to second base.
Lexington's defense fell apart in the bottom of the fourth, giving Hastings seven runs scored to lead 12-7.
Hastings kept Lexington from scoring in the top of the fifth. Green grounded out, Barkmeier grounded into fielder's choice and Hernandez grounded into fielder's choice.
