Windham, OH - The Windham Bombers welcomed in their NAC rivals the Bristol Panthers on Sunday afternoon at Community Field. Kaiden Kohler was on the mound for the Panthers facing off with the Bombers Chase Eye.
Eye was able to set the Panthers down 1-2-3 in the first on a ground out and a pair of fly outs. The Bombers were able to strike quick off Kohler in the bottom of the first. After a Dylan McCune leadoff walk, Chase Eye sent a ball deep into the right centerfield gap that resulted in an RBI triple. Jack Eye was then hit by a pitch and stole second base. A wild pitch scored 2 runs as the ball kicked far enough away from Panthers catcher Kiefer Swager to allow Eye to score from second base. Kohler was able to right the ship and strike out the final three batters to end the first. Windham led 3-0.
The top of the 2nd began with Chase Eye issuing back-to-back walks to Swager and Brent Songer. Unfortunately for Bristol they were unable to convert as Eye recorded three straight outs with two coming via strikeout. The Bombers went quietly in the bottom half with Kohler striking out a pair. The score remained 3-0 Bombers.
The Panthers finally broke through in the top of the 3rd for a pair of runs. A strikeout and a groundout resulted in two quick outs for Bristol. Croc Thorp was then hit by a pitch followed by a Kohler single to put two on with two out. Chase Eye then walked Swager to load the bases. Songer came through with a big 2-run single up the middle getting Bristol on the board. Eye was able to retire Jack Berry on a groundout to end the inning. The Bombers again went down 1-2-3 as Kohler had retired 9 straight since the Bombers scored in the first. Windham held a 3-2 lead after three.
Chase Eye came back with a strong 4th. After a strikeout and a walk, Berry attempted a bunt with the runner at first in motion. He popped it up to Eye who came off the mound to make the catch and fire to first to double up the runner and end the inning. Kohler continued to stymy the Bombers offense in the bottom half again retiring three straight. Still 3-2 Bombers after four.
Chase Eye started the 5th with back to back strikeouts before allowing a single to Kohler. He attempted to steal 2nd base, but a strong throw from McCune gunned him down to end the top half. The Bombers were unable to get anything going after a one out error gave them a baserunner and ended Kohler's streak at 13 straight retired batters. McCune flied to deep center to end the inning. It remained 3-2 heading to the 6th.
The Panthers were able to get a baserunner aboard against Eye in the 6th as Songer walked with one out. Eye then struck out Berry for out number two. He looked to be laboring a bit trying to get the final out of the inning prompting a mound visit by head coach Jake Eye. After some conversation, Chase Eye remained in the game and retired Mikey Burbach on a liner to Jack Eye at short to end the threat.
The Bombers opened up the lead in the bottom half. Chase Eye led off with a single, followed by an RBI double by brother Jack Eye making it a 4-2 game. After Anthony Paoella was hit by a pitch, another run scored on a Kohler wild pitch for their 5th run. The 6th and final run came home on an unsuccessful play at the plate after a ground ball to third. Big insurance runs for the Bombers gave them a 6-2 lead heading to the 7th.
Jack Eye came on to try and close it out for the Bombers in the top of the 7th. After recording the first two outs, he walked Diesel Williams and Croc Thorp reached on an error putting two on with two out. He was able to retire Kohler on a soft liner to short ending the game. The Bombers took this one 6-2.
Solid start for Chase Eye who went 6 innings allowing only 3 hits, 2 runs and 5 walks while striking out 7. At the plate he helped his own cause going 2/3 with a triple and an RBI. Jack Eye pitched the scoreless 7th while going 1/2 with a double, an RBI and 2 runs scored.
Brent Songer reached base three times with a single, 2 walks and 2 RBI for Bristol. Kaiden Kohler was 2/3 with a pair of singles.
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