BASEBALL: Miners rally falls short

Staff Reports
The Journal-Register

June 25, 2009 03:46 pm

— BARRE — A strong comeback bid fell just short as the Barre Miners dropped a narrow 9-8 decision in eight innings to the front-running Chili Reds Tuesday in a key Monroe County Babe Ruth game Tuesday at Barre Town Park.
Capitalizing on three hits and three walks, Chili jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
However, Barre battled back to tie scoring twice in the third on a single by Matt Monacelli, doubles by Ronnie Mannella and Jake Lester and a sacrifice by Brad Rush and then three times in the fourth on singles by Shane Woolston, Nick Gregori and Pete Nesbitt, an error and two walks.
Chili briefly regained a 6-4 advantage with run in the top of the fifth but the host Miners countered with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the frame for what turned out to be their only lead at 7-6. That rally saw Lester double and Buddy Keeler follow up with a two-run home run.
The sea-saw battle continued as the visiting Reds scored twice in the sixth to regain an 8-7 lead only to have the Miners answer with a run in the last of the seven to retie the contest at 8-8 and force extra innings. That run came home on a double by Lester which scored Mannella who had reached on a single.
Chili, which stays perfect at 6-0, then scored what proved to be the game winner in the top of the eighth on a two out double
Barre, which slips to 3-2, got a single by Seth Narburgh in the last of the eighth but could not advance him.
Lester had a total of three hits for the Miners as Gregori and Mannella both added two.
Barre next hosts Cal-Mum in a doubleheader at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at Barre Town Park.
In their previous league games Barre defeated Greece 7-0, the Brighton Barons 10-2 and the Brighton Bombers 8-3 but lost to the Webster Huskies 7-4.