Grimsley edges Page 6-5 in Diamond Rivalry

Special to Greensborosports.com:

Grimsley edges Page 6-5 in Diamond Rivalry

Another chapter was written in this inner-city rivalry as the Whirlies came from
behind and edged the Pirates 6-5 in a tight Metro 4A matchup. In a game
characterized by shifts in momentum, a constant force was Whirlie RHP pitcher Ryan
Stoneman who pitched an efficient, complete 7-inning game, striking out 11 Pirates
and walking none. Pitching ahead in the count for most of the evening, Stoneman
maintained good control and looked stronger as the game progressed.

The Whirlies scored in the bottom of the first inning off of Pirate starting pitcher
Nick Schofield as DH DJ Reader drove in Kory Shumate who had singled to lead-off the
game then stole second base. The Pirates wasted no time in responding as RF Benton
Reynolds doubled to lead off the second inning followed by singles from 3B Alec
Kornblum, C Will Syndor and 1B Trey Dobson staking Page to a 2-1 lead after two
innings.

The Pirates would add another run in the third inning as Nick Schofield singled,
stole second base and scored on a Whirlie infield error. Stoneman then struck out
the side to end the Pirate threat. The Pirates added 2 more runs in fourth inning
lead by singles from SS Tyler Sandlin and Benton Reynolds and assisted by key
Whirlie errors to bring the Page lead to 5-1.

Nick Schofield pitched solidly for the Pirates, striking out seven Whirlies and
walking three before being relieved by Benton Reynolds in the fifth inning with the
bases loaded and two outs. The Grimsley bats came to life in this pivotal fifth
inning as Seth O’Fallon started the rally with a double. Kory Shumate then provided
an RBI single scoring Ryan Stoneman. DJ Reader connected on a 2 RBI single followed
in the line-up by 2B Kyle Smith who drove in the fifth Grimsley run of the inning.
The Whirlies took a 6-5 lead which they never relinquished. Ryan Stoneman was
credited with the win. Nick Schofield got the loss. Benton Reynolds pitched 1 1/3
innings in relief for the Pirates, striking out four batters and giving up two hits.