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Virus concerns lead to early Herrington baseball wrap up
On the first day of the Gary Herrington Battle of the Bay baseball tournament, hosts Sterling found a way to pull out a dramatic, 8-7 win over Clear Falls to wrap day one of three set for the event with a 1-1 record.
Then word came down: The tournament’s final two days were scrapped due to area-wide concerns about the coronavirus and the health threat it posed.
Sterling head coach Adam Shibley was disappointed to find out the decision after spending most of the offseason to set up the four-site tournament.
“I am heartbroken really,” Shibley said. “A lot of my summer was putting this together and we had some really exciting matchups and it was good for the kids, the community and the fans. Everyone was excited to take part and were guaranteed games unless there was a virus outbreak. It’s sad for the kids.
“Obviously safety comes first so it’s OK since that is No. 1.”
The Rangers (10-3) ended the day on a high note, bouncing back from a 5-3 loss in the morning to Pasadena Dobie, to stop Clear Falls hopes of a shock rally win, when a Julian Garcia double brought home Jadon Wright in the bottom of the seventh inning to record the win.
It also made an early 6-0 lead hold up.
“I am never going to complain about a win and I liked the aggressive nature with which we started, but I was not too happy with the lull in focus in the middle innings,” Shibley said. “We let a team hang around where they finally broke through. Eventually they are going to crack through.
“Thank goodness we were able to battle back and win it. Tough competition can make you look a little less quality and and we will never talk like a win is an easy thing to do. We still found a way.”
