Raiders Redeem Themselves With 7-2 Win Over Falcons

After a lackluster performance a week ago in a loss to the Falcons, the Raiders came out Tuesday night a different team.

A team with the hunger for a win.

A team seeking redemption.

A team with the goal of advancing in a tournament.

The Raiders carried that determination with them into the game and were ready to compete as they avenged that loss with a 7-2 win over the Falcons that puts them up 1-0 in the best-of-three series of the HSBN Fall Classic.

The Raiders can advance to the semifinals next week with a win Thursday. The Falcons, meanwhile, are in a must-win situation as they will be looking to stave off elimination.

“We just came out to play,” Raiders first baseman Chris Schloss said. “We thought that today is a new day, last game was last game. We wanted to show what we can really do. It’s the next game in the playoffs. It’s a playoff atmosphere right now, and after the last game, we just wanted to come out here and play like it was the playoffs because we’re trying to win a championship right now. Even if it’s the fall, this is what our goal is, and I think tonight we just tried to play with that playoff intensity and that’s what we came out and did.”

Schloss paced the Raiders offensively, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, a double, stolen base and run, and co-ace Alec Byrd delivered a dominant performance on the mound as he threw five strong innings, striking out seven while giving up two hits and walking two.

“I don’t think any of us are selfish,” Schloss said. “We’re all trying to do the right things in the right situations with hitting, and that’s what I tried to come out and do tonight, and I think I did an OK job at it. All we were trying to do was get runs, and by any way I can help, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Although Schloss was modest about his performance, he said Byrd was the catalyst for the team’s strong effort.

“He came out with that playoff intensity that we needed, and he was the one who really set the tone for us tonight,” Schloss said. “Tonight, he was a gamer. He came out ready to pitch, and that’s what you want out of your starting pitcher. Tonight, he did a great job, and everyone else grew from that and went from there.”

Byrd was hot from the start, striking out the side to start the game and fanning four of the next six batters he faced.

“I had luck on my side,” Byrd said. “Everything was working pretty much. I established the fastball, threw the change-up well, but I couldn’t have done it without my defense. They played a great game all around.”

Raiders coach Troy Cameron was pleased to see Byrd rebound from a lesser performance last week against the Falcons.

“Alec was good. He pitched against them last week, and he was up in the zone a lot,” Cameron said. “It looked like maybe he was overthrowing or not used to the mound. Tonight, he made the adjustments from last week and kept the ball down and was able to give us five good innings. And that’s what we were hoping.”

While Byrd was keeping the Falcons in check, the Raiders quickly went to work and benefited from a bases-loaded walk by Teddy Meissner to score Brady Acton for a 1-0 lead in the first.

The Raiders padded the lead with a two-run third inning keyed by RBI singles by Christian Demby and Schloss, who also scored Meissner with a sacrifice fly in the third.

Down 4-0 going into the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons capitalized on Ryan Dodge’s RBI single to bring in AJ Munoz.

But the relentless Raiders kept their momentum going in the fifth, plating three runs on a double by Schloss and a bases-loaded walk by Ross Thibeault.

Oscar Rodriguez drove in Danny Oliveri for another Falcons run in the sixth.

Schloss said capitalizing on the little things helped the Raiders achieve success, and Byrd said his team learned from its experience with the Falcons last week.

“They’re a great team, but I think our kids just realized we’re a great team, too,” Byrd said. “And I think it took us losing to them and coming back to realize that. It’s a great bounce-back win, and we have to come back and win Thursday, too.”

Cameron said this type of tournament organized by High School Baseball Network puts a strong finish on the fall season.

“This is the most competitive situation you’re going to get in fall ball with [HSBN] putting on this tournament,” he said. “We got into the second round as a wild card and kind of got a second life and a little excitement. We want to try to make the best of it, and if we win, we get to play some more games. So I just wanted the kids to come out with a little different intensity from the first time they played the Falcons, and they did.”

Falcons manager Ray Evans said his team’s pitching put it at a disadvantage early.

“We didn’t throw strikes with our young guys,” Evans said. He explained how last time they played great defense and had timely hitting. “This time (however) we gave up free bases. There’s no defense when a pitcher can’t throw strikes or you’re hitting people. There’s no defense for it. We didn’t hit the ball well, and Byrd did a great job. He threw very nice, and they came out with a little more intensity than we did. Even though it’s a fall game, a win’s a win for them.”

Evans said his team maybe took it for granted it would win.

“The way they came out tonight, it’s almost like they wanted to roll their gloves out and thought they were going to win the game. We can’t do that. We’re not that good of a team.”

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