MILANO — The Milano Eagles managed to do something against the Thrall Tigers that no other District 27-2A team has been able to do this season: win. The Eagles (8-8 overall, 3-5 district) scored in the bottom half of the seventh to edge the Tigers (15-6-1, 8-1) 5-4 and end the Tigers’ seven-game win streak.
Thrall took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.
A Ty Bradford walk, followed by a pair of singles from Jaden Rodriguez and Anthony Sandoval loaded the bases for Carson Ball. Ball hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Bradford to give Thrall the early lead.
The lead went to 2-0 in the third. Jack Gustafson and Hayden Heselmeyer drew walks to lead off the inning, and Gustafson came home on Rodriguez’s single to left.
Milano took its first lead of the game in the bottom half of the third. The Eagles strung together four consecutive hits, including a pair of doubles, to score four runs in the third to grab the lead.
The score remained 4-2 until the top of the seventh inning when the Tigers tied the game. Bradford drew another walk and Rodriguez picked up his third hit of the game to put two runners on.
Sandoval’s fielder’s choice scored Bradford to cut the lead to 4-3 with one out, and Ty Matthew’s sacrifice to center brought home pinch runner Jack Watson to even the score.
Milano put a pair of runners on in the bottom half of the seventh, but it appeared that Thrall would work its way out of the jam when a second out was recorded. But, Colten Kirk’s single to left drove in Anthony Valadez for the winning run.
The Tigers were back in action on Friday in a key match-up with the Thorndale Bulldogs (18-1-1, 8-1). The Tigers won the first match-up 5-0 on March 12. The winner of Friday’s game will be in sole possession of first place.
