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10th inning grand slam sinks Hillcats

Chris Graham

Lynchburg scored two runs in the top of the 10th to take a 7-5 lead in extras, but Shane Hoelscher hit a grand slam in the home half to give Frederick a 9-7 victory at Nymeo Field Saturday night.

lynchburg hillcatsIn a back-and-forth contest that saw four lead changes over the course of the game, the Hillcats trailed 5-3 following a Yermin Mercedes three-run homer in the sixth inning. Lynchburg rallied back with a pair of home runs. With one out in the seventh, Ka’ai Tom hit his eighth home run of the year over the right field fence to cut it to 5-4. Martin Cervenka led off the eighth inning with a home run to tie it at 5-all and force extra innings.

In the 10th, Sicnarf Loopstok drew a leadoff walk and scored one batter later on a Cervenka double. Connor Marabell singled to drive in Cervenka and make it 7-5. However, it was not enough. Frederick loaded the bases with nobody out on a single and a pair of walks. Hoelscher sent a ball beyond the left field fence to end the game, 9-7.

Lynchburg initially held a 3-0 advantage. With two outs and the bases clear in the third, Willi Castro singled, and Loopstokdoubled for his team-leading 40th RBI of the season. The HIllcats plated two more in the fourth. Marabell singled, and Claudio Bautista produced an RBI double. He scored on a base hit by Ivan Castillo.

Argenis Angulo (3-2) took the loss, while Karl Triana (2-0) earned the win. Jordan Milbrath had two scoreless innings of middle relief for the Hillcats.

Lynchburg plays Frederick again Sunday at 6 p.m. Shane Bieber (4-1, 3.14) will start for the Hillcats against lefty Keegan Akin(6-5, 3.76). The game can be heard live at www.lynchburg-hillcats.com with pre-game coverage beginning at 5:50 p.m.

at Nymeo Field Saturday night.

In a back-and-forth contest that saw four lead changes over the course of the game, the Hillcats trailed 5-3 following a Yermin Mercedes three-run homer in the sixth inning. Lynchburg rallied back with a pair of home runs. With one out in the seventh, Ka’ai Tom hit his eighth home run of the year over the right field fence to cut it to 5-4. Martin Cervenka led off the eighth inning with a home run to tie it at 5-all and force extra innings.

In the 10th, Sicnarf Loopstok drew a leadoff walk and scored one batter later on a Cervenka double. Connor Marabell singled to drive in Cervenka and make it 7-5. However, it was not enough. Frederick loaded the bases with nobody out on a single and a pair of walks. Hoelscher sent a ball beyond the left field fence to end the game, 9-7.

Lynchburg initially held a 3-0 advantage. With two outs and the bases clear in the third, Willi Castro singled, and Loopstokdoubled for his team-leading 40th RBI of the season. The HIllcats plated two more in the fourth. Marabell singled, and Claudio Bautista produced an RBI double. He scored on a base hit by Ivan Castillo.

Argenis Angulo (3-2) took the loss, while Karl Triana (2-0) earned the win. Jordan Milbrath had two scoreless innings of middle relief for the Hillcats.

Lynchburg plays Frederick again Sunday at 6 p.m. Shane Bieber (4-1, 3.14) will start for the Hillcats against lefty Keegan Akin(6-5, 3.76). The game can be heard live at www.lynchburg-hillcats.com with pre-game coverage beginning at 5:50 p.m.

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].