TALLAHSSEE — Good things don’t always come to those who wait.
If you think differently just ask a member of the Crestview High School baseball team.
Last year rain forced the Bulldogs to wait three days for their Region 1-7A quarterfinal game at Chiles. Thursday’s game with the Timberwolves had a delay that was much shorter.
A miscommunication with the umpiring crew left the game without officials at the scheduled 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight had the Chiles’ staff scrambling for replacement umpires.
Crestview at Chiles baseball photos>>>>
The game started 46 minutes late and the Bulldogs wasted no time in scoring. Zach Degraaf, who led off the game with a walk, scored as Colter Hancock grounded out. Crestview led 1-0 after the top of the first, but the lead wouldn’t last as the Timberwolves rebounded from the early deficit to win 3-1.
The Bulldogs end the season with a 13-14 record.
The big play off the game for Chiles came in the bottom of the first when, with Josh McLanahan on first, Timberwolf catcher Richard Sorrenti took a Corey Armstrong out of the park for a two-run home run.
“He hit a fastball,” Crestview Coach Tim Gillis said on Sorrenti’s home run. “We got a pitch up and he put a good swing on it. You have to give him credit.”
Chiles added an insurance run in the fourth inning, but the two runs proved to be enough for Timberwolf pitcher Bowden Francis.
Francis again found himself in trouble in the third inning when the Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out. But Francis got Hancock to ground into a double play to end the inning.
“We had a couple of opportunities, but they (the Timberwolves) made a play,” Gillis said. “We hit a ground ball double play.
“They made a great play on a bunt and doubled us off (in the second inning). They do a good job. They had a couple of guys hurt us and those are the guys we thought might hurt us.”
]Crestview wouldn’t have another base runner until there were two outs in the seventh inning and Justin Kervin singled off the glove of Timberwolf third baseman Tucker Criswell.
Francis allowed just three hits while striking out four to pick up the win. In addition to Kervn’s hit the Bulldogs picked singles from B.A. Larkins and Andrew Polk.
Armstrong strong went the distance on the mound for Crestview allowing the three runs on seven hits. He struck out five batters and didn’t walk anyone.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview eliminated from playoffs by Chiles (PHOTOS, VIDEO)