For a while, it seemed like the first inning might be the only good inning for the Blair Oaks offense this week. Fortunately for the Falcons, they had a breakthrough in the fifth and sixth innings Tuesday night. Blair Oaks took advantage of a few crucial errors and a few pitching mishaps to pull away to an 8-2 victory against the Eldon Mustangs in a Tri-County Conference matchup at the Falcon Athletic Complex.
For the longest time, it looked like one run would be enough. Just two batters into Monday’s game, the Blair Oaks Falcons led 1-0 against the Helias Crusaders. That remained the score until Helias sent the game to extra innings with a run in the bottom of the seventh, then won it 2-1 with a run in the ninth at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex. “When it got to crunch time, we performed,” Helias coach Chris Wyrick said.
The Blair Oaks offense came to life and Wil Libbert bounced back from his second career loss. Those two things added up to a perfect opportunity for the Falcons to get their long-awaited first win of the season, and it came against the defending state champions. Blair Oaks sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning, Libbert struck out 11 batters and the Falcons knocked off the Southern Boone Eagles for an 8-2 victory Tuesday night in Tri-County Conference play at Southern Boone High School.
Southern Boone senior Hayden Steelman was asked to save the Eagles’ season Thursday night. With the bases loaded with one out in the sixth inning, and with the Eagles clinging to a one-run lead against the Blair Oaks Falcons, it looked like Steelman had the tallest of tasks in front of him. Instead, he made it look like another day at the park.