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Orange County baseball edges Albemarle in extra inning clash

Photo by Kristi Ellis

Like every spring team in the state, it had been a long wait for Orange County baseball to take the field again due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it was fitting that the Hornets had to wait a little while longer for the scoring to really get going. 

 

Orange broke through in the eighth inning with three runs to take a 4-2 extra innings battle with Albemarle High Tuesday night. 

 

Kyle Johnson and Rebel Fretwell got that spurt going in the top of the eighth with a pair of singles to lead off the inning. Then Caleb Tinsley cashed in on a sacrifice fly to right field to score Johnson. The Hornets then loaded the bases, Michael Mahieu drew a walk to make it 3-1 and then Luke Jarrell scored on a passed ball to make it 4-1. 

 

Albemarle got a similar start to the Hornets in the bottom of the eighth with Hunter Shifflett and Ivan Rabinowitz hitting singles to start the frame. But the Patriots only managed to score once with a two-out fielder’s choice by Will Townsend that scored Rabinowitz. Then Orange sophomore Blane Jennings closed it out on the mound for the Hornets by inducing a pop out. 

 

Both teams split up the innings at pitcher with Orange’s Jarrell throwing 3.2 innings and striking out three without giving up a single hit. Aiden Baker was sharp too with 3.1 innings of work while striking out eight and allowing just three hits and a single run.

 

Albemarle turned to a combination largely of Alex Bingler and Will Coleman, with Bingler striking out five and allowing just one hit in three shutout innings while Coleman struck out three and allowed three runs in four innings. 

 

Orange scratched out just five hits as a team with Baker hitting a double while Jarrell, Mahieu and Tinsley had the RBIs. Albemarle had six hits, with Jack McMullan hitting a double while he and Townsend knocked in the two runs. 

 

The Hornets will host Louisa County Thursday while Albemarle will look to bounce back against Monticello Thursday night. 

 

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