Farm Center outlasts IMI 10-6

The Farm Center jumped out to a big 7-0 lead, but had to hold on tightly to the wheel as a resilient IMI squad put together a strong comeback before finally falling 10-6 in the battle of the two Marshall County Babe Ruth League Chapel Hill teams Tuesday night.

IMI outhit the Farm Center six to five in the contest, but gave up eight walks, three hit batsmen, and committed three crucial errors that were the difference in the game.

After Bryce Oliver (Farm Center) and Brayden Gentry (IMI) both turned in a scoreless first inning in their starting roles on the mound, the Farm Center struck pay dirt in the bottom of the second as they plated seven unearned runs off of Brayden.

Farm Center catcher Boone Sweeney had a two-run single in the inning, while Landon Jones had an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Clay Watson knocked in one run with a base knock to right field.

The Farm Center scored seven runs with two outs as IMI committed all three of their errors in the decisive inning.

There was no scoring in the third inning, and in the top of the fourth, IMI mounted their comeback off of Watson in relief of Oliver on the hill.

Jordan Jent and Dustin Deason got things going for IMI with back-to-back base hits to begin the inning before Watson issued consecutive walks to Jake Blasingim and Lucas Welch to make it a 7-1 ballgame.

Farm Center manager Dan Sweeney went to the mound and inserted Boone Sweeney, who also could not find the strike zone, walking Chaz Collinwood and Luke Cunningham to make it 7-3.

Sweeney finally got the first out of the frame on a fly ball to right, but Gentry followed with a two-run single and Jonathan Lykins made it a one-run ballgame at 7-6 on a fielder's choice RBI.

Sweeney retired the next batter on a grounder to Jesse Darnell at second base for the third out and in the bottom of the inning, the farm boys tacked on a run on an RBI base knock by Oliver.

Jesse Pruitt set down IMI 1-2-3 in the sixth and Sweeney made it a four-run ballgame at 10-6 with a two-run double in the home portion of the inning.

In the top of the seventh, IMI's Lykins singled with one out and Jent followed with a base on balls before the game ended on a fly ball to Payton Sisk in center and a put-out at home plate.

The Farm Center ended their regular season with an 8-4 record, while winless IMI (0-11) has one more game left and chance to break the season-long drought on the last day of the season Thursday night.