Late outburst keys Flames’ win

WEST BEND – A five-run ninth inning propelled the Plymouth Flames past the West Bend Benders, 8- 3, in a Land O’ Lakes Baseball League game here Thursday night.

The Flames upped their Northern Division record to 5-11 (7-16 overall) and the Benders fell to 1-13.

Plymouth led only 3-2 going into the top of the ninth. Eric Heidenreiter’s two-run triple was the big blow for the Flames in the inning. Chris Bennin contributed an RBI double and Nick Wilson had a run-scoring single.

Bennin and Heidenreiter keyed the Flames’ attack with two hits each. Wilson and Heidenreiter led in RBIs with two apiece.

Evan Walsh struggled with his control but went the distance to gain the victory. Walsh walked eight and hit a whopping five batters but struck out 10. He allowed three earned runs on six hits.

Walsh pitched out of several jams as the Benders stranded 13 baserunners.

Alec Steinmetz led West Bend in hits with three. E.J. Sexton drove in a team-best two runs. Joel Seagraves was the losing pitcher. Seagraves was also wild – walking 12 batters. He threw a complete game and surrendered six earned runs on seven hits with 12 strikeouts.

Score by Innings Flames……………….001 110 005 – 8 7 0 West Bend………….000 000 201 – 3 6 2

Evan Walsh and Dusty Medved; Joel Seagraves and Matt Hotovec. W – Walsh. L – Seagraves. 2B – Flames, Chris Bennin. 3Bs – Flames, _________________ E_r_ic_ H_e_i_d_en_r_e_iter 2.