BonnerSprings.com

The Bonner Springs baseball team had the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning of Tuesday’s season-opener against Turner.

The Braves trailed by three and were one mighty swing away from earning a victory.

First-year coach Barry Richards called upon his best pinch hitter, senior Brandon Eastland, to get one up in the air and see if the wind would carry the ball out of the park for a game-winning grand slam, or maybe deliver a gapper that would plate a couple of runners and put the top of the lineup back up against the struggling Turner bullpen.

It didn’t happen, and Turner survived with a 9-6 victory.

Still, the drama never should have happened.

There was no reason to think that the Braves would be in this position before the start of the seventh inning. Turner starting pitcher Brett Stratton had pitched six innings of almost spotless baseball. He allowed seven hits and only one runner had crossed home plate. To put it simply, Stratton was cruising and his team had a 9-1 lead going into the final frame powered by two home runs from catcher Hector Faccio and one by second baseman Jacob Fulps.

Turner mistakenly turned to its relief pitchers to get in some mop-up time on the mound against the seemingly punchless Braves.

With one out in the seventh, the Bonner rally began innocently enough when Shaun Jones drew a walk. Dalton Vitt followed with a hard single and Ryan Morris was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brian Callahan stepped up and slammed a two-run double to keep the inning going. The Braves followed with two more doubles, a walk and a single to set up the bases-loaded opportunity for Eastland.

The Bears made another pitching change and Eastland stepped in looking to do some damage — maybe even win the game.

Eastland got a good pitch to hit, but not in the air. He slammed it up the middle and it looked like it would score two runs, but the heavy grass slowed the ball enough and Turner was able to turn in a game-ending double play, winning 9-6.

The Braves, who looked outmatched through most of the game, put together a nice comeback and will try to carry some of the momentum into the season.

The Braves (0-1) were scheduled to play Tonganoxie at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Results were unavailable at press time. They next play at 4 p.m. Monday at home in a doubleheader against Santa Fe Trail.

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