By Laura Stabbert
COCHECTON — It looked like Davis Excavating was going to get the win against Hotel Clair on Wednesday night in a Sullivan County Beer League softball game.
The game was tied at 7-7 in the top of the sixth inning. But Davis Excavating posted five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a commanding lead.
Going into the seventh inning, Hotel Clair trailed 12-7 and needed to score. Adam Hauser gave the team some momentum by hitting a double which allowed Tim Bernhardt to score. Hotel Clair loaded the bases and Jon Harting tripled to bring the team within one run.
Eric “Rudy” Youmans had a sacrifice fly ball and Harting scored to tie the game at 12-12.
With two outs, Brian Hubbert hit a double. Rob Ward had a base hit to center field, driving in Hubbert to give Hotel Clair a one-run advantage. Ward also scored to give Hotel Clair a 14-12 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh frame.
Early in the bottom of the seventh, Dan Schumann had a two-run, inside-the-park home run to tie the score with no outs.
Ward was pitching for Hotel Clair in relief of Glenn Snedeker. There was a line drive hit to Ward, who made the catch and quickly flipped the ball to first baseman Tim Bernhardt, who caught the Davis Excavating base runner off the bag for a double play.
Brett Youmans made the next catch to end the inning and send the game into an extra inning as the score remained knotted at 14-14.
Hotel Clair had the top of its order coming up in the top of the eighth. Bernhardt singled and was tagged out at home plate moments later. But Hotel Clair still had the bases loaded with only one out.
James Walton scored and with two outs, Brett Youmans and Hauser scored to give Hotel Clair a three-run lead at 17-14. Hubbert added an RBI to put Hotel Clair up by four runs, 18-14, going into the bottom of the eighth inning.
Hotel Clair would ultimately never relinquish its lead. Bryan Tierney had a double for Davis Excavating, which sent Joel Turner home. Tierney then scored on Andy Dutton’s double, making the score 18-16.
Davis Excavating scored another run before the inning ended in an 18-17 victory for Hotel Clair.
With the win, Hotel Clair improved its overall record to 4-3 on the season.