Reds Can't Catch a Break, Suffer Six Losses

GEORGIE KULCZYK

THE COURIER

After losing the opportunity to play some home games due to weather and poor field conditions, the Glasgow Reds traveled to Billings for their final regular season games on July 15, 16 and 17.

The Reds first faced the Laurel Dodgers on Friday evening. Despite an outstanding offensive game by Bryce Legare, and six Dodger errors, the Reds fell to Laurel 6-15. All six runs for the Reds were credited to Legare after a single in the third inning and an always-impressive grand slam the following inning.

Kasey Seyfert, Tyler Hersom, Alex Fransen, Korbin Cole and Jacob Meiers all finished the game with hits of their own, but none of them produced a run for the Reds. Kevin McDonald and Nik Herman shared the duties on the mound, but McDonald was charged with the loss.

The second game of the evening resulted in a shut-out loss for the Reds, with Laurel defeating Glasgow 9-0 in five innings. Seyfert and Hersom recorded the only two hits in the game, but also were credited with a few of the eight team errors. On the mound were Meiers and Darrin Wersal, with Wersal taking the loss.

On Saturday, the Reds were up against the Billings Blue Jays for another two-game evening. Glasgow jumped to an early lead with a string of walks delivered by the Blue Jays' pitcher, followed by an RBI from Wersal and a steal of home by Hersom.

The Reds stayed within reach of a win when the Blue Jays pulled ahead with four runs in the bottom of the first. Unable to score any runs in the second inning, the Reds were left in the dust when the Blue Jays blazed a 10-run streak. The streak would seal the win for Billings as the Reds would not score another run. After five innings the Reds fell to the Blue Jays 2-16. Chase Guttenberg and Kristian Price worked the mound for the game, with Price being charged with the loss.

In their second game against the Blue Jays, the Reds suffered another shut out loss. Seyfert and Legare did what they could at the plate, recording the only two hits of the game. Hersom and Fransen shared the pitching duties, with Hersom taking the loss for the Reds.

Sunday closed out the weekend for the Reds with two games against the Billings Cardinals. The Cardinals outscored the Reds for the entire first contest, with Glasgow bringing in just one run in the sixth inning when McDonald singled to left field and brought Fransen in for a run. The Reds recorded five errors, opening the door for the Cardinals to pull out the win. Taking the loss on the mound was Legare, who pitched five innings. Fransen pitched the final inning, delivering 16 strikes to seven batters.

The Reds got their bats going in the second game against the Cardinals, but it wasn't enough to earn a win. Glasgow claimed an early lead in the first inning with four runs, and maintained the upper hand until the final inning when Billings brought in two runs to defeat the Reds.

Seyfert and Hersom both earned walks to get on base, followed by a single to shortstop by Legare that loaded the bases.

Wersal took one for the team in his turn at the plate when he was hit by the second pitch sent his way. All runners advanced and Seyfert scored the first run of the game. Fransen reached first base on an error and recorded two RBI's with a grounder that brought home both Hersom and Legare.

A balk by the pitcher advanced the runners, then the bases were loaded when McDonald earned a walk. In his turn at the plate, Guttenberg was looking at being walked as well when he was hit by a pitch and Wersal scored the fourth run of the inning.

The Cardinals were finally able to shut down the Reds' offense and sent them to the field for the bottom of the inning.

On the mound, Seyfert made quick work of shutting down the Cardinals at the plate. Three appearances at the plate by Billings resulted in three outs – two as the result of a double play by Seyfert and Legare. Seyfert struck out the third batter bringing the inning to an end.

The contest continued without any runs scored until the bottom of the third inning when the Cardinals brought in two runs.

A new pitcher for the Cardinals shut down the Reds in the fourth, followed by the same from Seyfert to close the inning out.

Another pitching change for Billings to start the fifth inning did them no good as all four runs were scored without a single hit from the Reds. The Cardinals almost caught up to the Reds, scoring five runs off a few good hits, but the inning came to an end with the Reds still on top, 8-7.

In the sixth inning, the teams traded runs with each scoring one, bringing the score to 9-8.

Seyfert began the seventh inning on the mound, but with 111 pitches in the game, and just two runs separating the Cardinals from a win, Coach Sprague sent Price in to relieve him. Price delivered just six pitches before Sprague made another pitching change, bringing in Guttenberg to finish the game. Guttenberg was unable to deny the Cardinals, however, and allowed two runs. Billings finished on top with a score of 10-9. Taking the loss on the mound was Seyfert. Notably, Fransen, Guttenberg, Blayne Diesen, Meiers, Seyfert, and Wersal all recorded RBIs in the final game of the weekend.

Up next for the Reds is the district tournament in Billings July 21-25.