The Decatur Bean Ballers and Danville Dans put together one of the most entertaining games of the young summer season Saturday night, battling through 11 innings before the Dans escaped with a narrow 5-4 victory at Decatur.
The Bean Ballers received dominant pitching for much of the evening and mounted a furious rally in the bottom of the 11th inning, but Danville was able to hold on for the one-run win in a game that featured just 15 combined hits over 11 innings.
Bean Ballers Strike First
After three scoreless innings, Decatur capitalized on a Danville defensive miscue in the bottom of the fourth.
With runners aboard, Grayson Roberson reached on a throwing error by the Danville second baseman, allowing both Garret Allen and Oneill Feliz to cross the plate. The two unearned runs gave the Bean Ballers an early 2-0 advantage despite collecting just one hit through the first four innings.
The lead was backed by an outstanding performance from starting pitcher Parker Phillis, who kept the Dans off the scoreboard through five innings. Phillis scattered five hits, walked none, and struck out five batters while facing 19 hitters in a scoreless outing.
Danville Answers in the Sixth
The Dans finally broke through in the sixth inning.
Nick Palmi delivered an RBI triple to right-center field to cut the deficit to 2-1 before JJ Baysinger tied the contest with a sacrifice fly later in the inning, bringing home Palmi and evening the score at 2-2.
From there, both bullpens settled in and neither offense could find the breakthrough run during regulation.
Max Gregory worked two innings of relief, allowing just one hit and one earned run while striking out one. Baron Odam followed with three strong innings, surrendering only one hit and one run while helping force the game into extra innings.
Dans Capitalize in the 11th
The game remained deadlocked until the top of the 11th, when Danville finally gained separation.
Baysinger came through with the biggest hit of the night for the visitors, lining a two-run single that was aided by a Decatur error in left field. The play allowed Nick Palmi and Mason McReynolds to score, giving Danville a 4-2 lead.
The Dans added another insurance run moments later when Hudson Roberts lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Baysinger and stretching the advantage to 5-2.
Bean Ballers Refuse to Quit
Facing a three-run deficit and down to their final three outs, Decatur mounted one last rally.
With one out in the bottom of the 11th, Jagger Snitko came around to score when Oneill Feliz ripped an RBI double to left field, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
Moments later, Jackson Snitko delivered a clutch RBI single to left field that scored Feliz and brought the Bean Ballers within a run at 5-4.
The rally put the pressure squarely on Danville, but the Dans were able to record the final outs before Decatur could complete the comeback.
Feliz Leads the Offense
Despite the loss, Oneill Feliz paced the Bean Ballers offensively, finishing 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, two runs scored, and three walks. He reached base in all five of his plate appearances.
Carder Reich added a pair of hits, while Garret Allen and Trevor Geis each recorded hits of their own. Jackson Snitko’s RBI single in the 11th inning provided the final run of the night for Decatur.
The Bean Ballers finished with seven hits and six walks, while Danville managed eight hits.
Strong Pitching Effort Overshadowed
The loss was a tough one for Decatur, particularly considering the performance of its pitching staff. Phillis, Gregory, and Odam combined to allow just seven hits and four runs over 10 innings, keeping the Bean Ballers in position to win throughout the night.
Ultimately, Danville’s three-run 11th inning proved to be the difference, spoiling an otherwise impressive effort by the Decatur staff.
While the result went in the visitors’ favor, the Bean Ballers showcased the grit that has become their identity early this season, battling until the final out and nearly erasing a three-run deficit in dramatic fashion before falling 5-4 in an extra-inning showdown with the Dans.
Gabe Arroyo Post Game Interview
#15 Matthew Novominsky with the Sliding Catch in Centerfield
Error Turned Out! #16 Brandon Abernathy makes the Perfect Throw from Right Field to #28 Carder Reich for the Tag Out
#34 Oneill Feliz with the RBI Double in the 11th inning
#27 Grayson Roberson secures the Grounder and makes the Throw to #19 Garret Allen for the Out
Double Play! #17 Jagger Snitko Dives to stop the ball, makes the Toss to #28 carder Reich for the Force out and Throw to #19 Garret Allen for the 2nd Out
#16 Brandon Abernathy making the Sliding Catch in Rightfield