Coming up on the short end of the scoreboard has been all too common this season for Emmaus.
Especially when it comes to close games.
Yesterday’s gut-wrenching, one-run defeat to Central Catholic at Limeport Stadium was just the latest setback for head coach Jeremy Haas’ squad, and this loss, likely ended any hopes the Hornets had of reaching one of their goals this season.
After battling back from five-run deficit late in the game to take a two-run lead against rival Central Catholic, Emmaus once again found themselves walking off the field in disappointment and disbelief as they watched the Vikes rally for a wild 9-8 win in a game that lasted nearly three hours.
Central Catholic, which had already defeated the Hornets once this season (6-2 back on March 17) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on just one hit to pull out the victory and sweep the regular-season series while increasing their chances of making the EPC Tournament for the first time since 2016.
The Hornets, who earlier this week couldn’t protect a two-run lead in a 6-5 eight inning loss at Whitehall, dropped to 5-7 in the league and 7-8 overall after suffering their fourth loss in their last five games. The one-run defeat was the fourth this season for Emmaus, which has lost of four of their last five games.
With their league playoff hopes all but gone, Emmaus now turns its focus on qualifying for the District XI Class 6A Tournament needing to win three of their final five games.
The Hornets had overcome one of their largest deficits of the season after Central Catholic had scored a pair of runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead.
In the sixth, Emmaus sent 11 men to the plate and scored six runs in regaining the lead at 8-6. Starting pitcher junior Ryan Hummell had an RBI double in the inning, senior right fielder Logan Ravier had a two-run single and junior left fielder Cole Moreau also had an RBI single. Another run scored on a wild pitch.
Central Catholic, however, would have a response as they plated three runs off senior reliever Andrew Lee who was making just his fourth appearance of the season. Lee went just 1/3 of an inning walking the bases loaded.
Ravier, the fifth Emmaus pitcher of the day, unleashed a wild pitch with the bases loaded scoring one run to cut the lead to 8-7. One batter later, pinch-hitter junior Nicholas Bowser reached on infield single to tie the game at 8-8. The winning-run then scored on a ground ball that Emmaus second baseman Josh Diaz threw home, however, pinch-runner Patrick Cahill got underneath the tag of Emmaus catcher Bryan Kain giving Central the 9-8 lead.
The Hornets were able to get their leadoff hitter junior Drayce Schmidt on in the top of the seventh via an error. Schmidt moved to second a fielder’s choice and then to third on a passed ball. Reliever Charlie Hahn then got Diaz to line out to third baseman Jake Strobl ending the game.
Hahn (2-1) picked up the win in relief for the Vikes. Starter Matt Rader went 5 1-3 innings giving up three runs on four hits while striking out five and walking four.
Ravier suffered the loss (0-1). Hummell, in his first start of the season, was touched up for five runs on eight hits in 3 1-3 innings. Junior Connor Horwath and Drew McGeehan also saw action on the mound for the Hornets.
Central Catholic out hit Emmaus 11-9 in the game. Senior catcher Mike Martinez was 2-for-3 for the Vikes who improved to 8-4 in the EPC and 10-5 overall.
For Emmaus, Ravier was 2-for-3 and drove in three runs, while Hummell also had a pair of hits for the Hornets who host Allen on Friday at 7 p.m. at Emmaus Community Park.
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Central Catholic 9, Emmaus 8
Em – 001 016 0 – 8-9-0
CC – 002 403 x – 9-11-3
Ryan Hummell, Connor Horwath (4), Andrew Lee (6), Logan Ravier (6), Drew McGeehan (6) and Bryan Kain; Matt Rader, Anthony Grigoli (5), Charlie Hahn (6) and Mike Martinez. WP – Hahn (2-1), LP – Ravier (0-1).