Tropics complete doubleheader comeback against Squirrels

Tropic’s catcher Jayquan Bogan (21) makes a split-second tag, denying the Charleston’s Brady Smith (16) at home plate during game one of the Tropic’s doubleheader win over the Squirrels at Kelly High School on Tuesday, July 2.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

BENTON, MO. — The Southeast Tropics rallied to win both games of a doubleheader against the Charleston Fighting Squirrels on Tuesday, July 2 at Kelly High School.

Refusing to go down without a fight, the Tropics (17-4-1) overcome deficits in both games to secure a 4-3 and 5-4 victory.

“We’ve got to clean some stuff up,” said Squirrels coach Michael Minner. “To beat the really good teams you have to play well. We had too many mistakes last night that didn’t put us in a position to win. But I do think we battled. We had chances. Just have to keep working and learning. We’re trying to find our nine who give us the best chance to win. We have a lot of season left.”

In the first game, Charleston (10-10) struck first in the top of the first inning when Will Green scored on a single by Owen Osborne. The Tropics responded in the bottom half of the inning, as Waylon Hale doubled to score Kolten Payne and Mason Adams, giving the Tropics a 2-1 lead.

Charleston regained the lead in the top of the third inning when Green and Levi McKinnie scored on a single by Brady Smith.

However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Payne scored on an error to tie the game at 3-3, and Trey Benthal then delivered the game-deciding hit, a pop fly single that scored Adams and gave the Tropics a 4-3 lead.

The Tropics employed a four-man pitching staff during the win. Carson McDaniel worked the first two frames, surrendering one unearned run on two hits while fanning three and walking one. Dalton Forck took over for the middle innings, yielding two earned runs on two hits while striking out one and issuing five free passes. 

Kolten Payne provided a crucial shutdown inning in the fifth, notching two strikeouts, and Ross Peters slammed the door, earning the win with two innings of one-hit ball, striking out three and walking one.

Peyton Hodges started for the Squirrels and pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Brady Smith took the loss, allowing two unearned runs on two hits with one strikeout in the sixth inning.

In the nightcap, the Squirrels mirrored their early success from the first game, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Green, after leading off with a double, crossed the plate. 

The Tropics answered swiftly in the bottom half of the frame, knotting the score at 1-1 as Aaron Dunlap scored on a Payne single. The Tropics then seized their first lead of the game in the second inning, capitalizing on a wild pitch to bring Payne home.

Unfazed by the Tropics’ surge, Charleston countered with a two-run rally in the top of the second to reclaim a 3-2 lead. Will Friley scored on a groundout, and Jack Evans capitalized on an error to put the Squirrels back in front. 

Yet again, the Tropics responded, leveling the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the second as Forck scored on a groundout.

The game continued its back-and-forth momentum as the Squirrels inched ahead 4-3 in the top of the third when Smith scored on a fielder’s choice. 

But the Tropics answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Payne stole home to knot the score, and Adams followed suit, crossing the plate on the next at-bat to give the Tropics a 5-4 advantage.

Thomas Frakes earned the win for the Tropics, allowing three earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks in 3.2 innings pitched. Beau-Hunter Warren notched the save, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings of one-hit relief. 

Lawson Graff was tagged with the loss for the Squirrels, surrendering four earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts and two walks in four innings pitched.

The Squirrels now head to Columbia, Tennessee, for a tournament at Columbia State Community College this weekend. 

The Tropics, meanwhile, will enjoy a brief respite before resuming their season at the Missouri State Championship Tournament, set for July 11 through 15  at Hillhouse Park in Charleston.