Yellow Jackets lose another heartbreaker

Jonas Pope IV Herald Sports Writer

ROANOKE RAPIDS - It was a different team from the same county, but it ended with the same frustrating result for the Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jackets.

Last week versus Southern Nash, Roanoke Rapids played great defense and had excellent pitching, but gave up one home run that made the difference. Tuesday night was almost a mirror image of that tough loss.

Tyler Deloach pitched a complete game for the Jackets against Northern Nash, but gave up a two-run homer in the fifth inning that was all the offense the Knights needed, defeating the Jackets 2-1 at Doyle Field.

It was a scene Jackets head coach Mark Snead was all too familiar with.

“Once again, I can't say enough about Tyler Deloach,” Snead said. “He did exactly what we wanted him to do, and he made one mistake and the guy got two runs for them. If you make one mistake in the game, you should win it.”

It had been a scoreless game until the top of the fifth inning, with neither team able to get the upper hand. After Deloach walked Andrew Webb, the Knights' designated hitter Desaray Rosser stepped up to the plate. The big lefty blasted a home run over the right field fence for the first and only scores of the evening for Northern Nash.

“I'm glad he did it,” Knights head coach Al Carter said. “Up to that point he hadn't been having very good at-bats. He got ahead in the count and was able to get a pitch he could hit out. He is capable of doing that at any time; I think that's his fifth or sixth home run this year.”

It was the only time Rosser made contact all evening, but he made the most of it. Aside from the hit by Rosser, Deloach had an impressive showing on the mound, fanning 11 Northern Nash batters.

“I got to tip my hat to their pitcher,” Carter said. “He did a heck of a job today. That's the most we've struck out all year. We were fortunate to win this game.”

The Jackets shook off the home run quickly and made an impressive stand to end the inning. With runners in scoring position, and facing two outs, Knights outfielder Mike Williams attempted to steal home, but was tagged out by Jackets catcher Seth Wright. The play brought life back to the Roanoke Rapids dugout, and the momentum carried over to the sixth inning for the Jackets.

With Jacob Spragins on second, Timmy Smith hit an RBI single deep into right field to bring in Spragins and pull the Jackets within one. Deloach struck out to end the inning, but he returned the favor, striking out the first two Northern Nash batters to begin the seventh. Down 2-1 headed into the final inning, the Jackets only managed one hit, a single by Justin Bullock, and the game ended with two straight strikeouts.

Zach Woodley picked up the win for the Knights. He went five innings and struck out 10 batters. Webb came on in relief and struck out five batters in two innings of work.

Now Snead and the Jackets have to find a way to get over that hump and win these type of close games.

“We got runners on base, and we can't get that timely hit,” Snead said. “We know we are a better team. We know we had a chance to win that game tonight against one of the top 3A teams in the state.”

Snead said he feels the Jackets will find their rhythm, and when they do, the wins will fall into place.

“We need to get over the hump and get that win,” Snead said. “When we do, I think we are going to break loose. Until then we have to continue to work hard until we can beat those good teams.”

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