In a game featuring a dramatic final inning that saw clutch pitching win out in the end, Strickland’s Funeral Home jumped out to an early lead and hung on to defeat a scrappy Dragon Slayers squad by a 5-3 count in Wendell Parks and Recreation 9-10 year old baseball play earlier this week.

Jacob Tilley got out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the game’s final inning, reaching back and recording a huge strikeout to preserve the victory for Strickland’s. Nathan Craig was the winning pitcher, baffling the Dragon Slayer batsmen for the first two innings of the game. Strickland’s started the game out with a bang, plating all five of their runs in the first inning as Tilley, Savanah Goad-Cortez, Matthew Poole, Craig, and Christopher Macleod all came around to touch the plate during the rally. Trey Lindsay also had a good night offensively in the winning effort, ripping a single. Giovani San Juan-Huerta, Dajuan Banks, Justin Perry, and Connor Bonham also had good at bats and played flawless defense to aid in the win.

Dragon Slayers also played a great game, showing the heart of a champion despite the final score, refusing to give up and nearly coming back from the early five run hole. Lister starred at the plate for his team, smashing a triple, while Brigston Vardy, Justin Shirley, and Tanner Matthews each had a single on the night. Shirley and Ben Lister took care of the pitching for Dragon Slayers, making several big pitches to keep the game within reach. The entire team played gold glove type defense, with Paul Harper, Baker Lee, Tyson Crabtree, Owen Hickman, Garyn Whitley, Chase Harbour, and Glenn Rigsbee all flashing leather in the field throughout the contest.