The Adair County High School baseball club dropped to 15-12 on the season Monday night in an offense-heavy, back-and-forth battle with visiting Green County, who improved to 15-10 following the win.
Down 5-1 early, Adair stormed back to lead 7-5 after five innings. The two-run lead wouldn’t hold, however, as the Indians gave up four runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, losing 11-8 to visiting Green County (15-10).
“We just have some little things that we must clean up in order to win a tight ballgame,” said Adair head coach Ryan McQueary. “We had a few mental mistakes that were costly, guys just not playing with confidence and the grit and fire that we encourage daily.”
Brayton Coomer homered in the sixth to keep Adair in contention, but his solo shot, which cut the deficit to 9-8, was the Tribe’s last run of the game. Coomer proved to be a tough out the entire game, leading the home team’s offensive charge with three hits and two RBI.
Adair outhit Green on the night, 12 to 11, but three defensive miscues — coupled with timely hitting from the Dragons — ended up being the difference.
“We out-hit them but lacked some key hits that we needed,” McQueary said. “They got the key hits and therefore drove in several more runs than we did.”
Senior Carson Jessie got the start for Adair and went 5.1 innings, giving up seven runs and walking four. Freshman Aiden Smith — who, like Jessie, finished with two hits at the plate — took the loss on the mound, giving up three runs (two earned) after relieving Jessie in the sixth. Coomer pitched the seventh and allowed one run.
“We walked several hitters, and we just have to understand our pitching strengths, which is to throw strikes, avoid big innings, and trust that our defense will make plays,” McQueary said of his hurlers. “Our pitchers striking guys out is a bonus.”
McQueary said he didn’t see the confidence from his team that he’s grown accustomed to throughout most of this season.
“There was a point mere days ago that we would’ve went into the bottom of the seventh inning down 11-8 and we knew we were going to win, but I didn’t see that in this one,” the coach said. “I tell my guys daily how much confidence I have in them, how much I love them. I told them after the game though that none of that matters if they don’t believe in themselves. We can’t be our best baseball team if we are afraid of failing.”
The Indians will have little time to dwell on the loss, as they play host to LaRue County (17-9) tonight. The game is set for 5 p.m. and Senior Night ceremonies start at 4:45.
