COMMERCE — Commerce had a 1-0 lead in both games but couldn’t build on either in the Class A Public quarterfinals at home on Monday.
Fourth-ranked Charlton County outscored No. 8 Commerce 9-2 on the day to win the series, 3-1 and 6-1, and eliminate the Tigers.
Charlton County’s pitching was on point in both games, especially in Game 1. Trent Gray tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on two hits. He also struck out 11 Tigers.
Still, though, Commerce (24-10 Region 8-A No. 1 seed) had a 1-0 advantage heading into the sixth inning before everything went south for the Tigers.
Charlton County (30-6 Region 2A No. 1 seed) smacked two home runs, Tristan Herring with a solo shot to left field and Shacario Bailey hammered a two-run homer. The timely shots pushed the Indians ahead for good and to the Game 1 win.
In Game 2, the Tigers held on to a slim 1-0, and again, Charlton County’s bats capitalized on a couple of Commerce mistakes to blow open the game with a six-run fifth inning.
Charlton County’s Colby Bryant walked to start the inning but was retired trying to stretch it out to third base. Gant Geiger reached on an error during the play. On the next at-bat, Dylan McAlister was hit by a pitch.
Later in the inning, Herring singled in Geiger and McAlister, then a balk during Wade Rodeffer’s at-bat from Commerce pitcher Cayden Lord sent Herring to second and three pitches later, Rodeffer singled to bring Herring home and a 3-1 lead. Charlton County added three more runs off a Connor Nelson double and a Bailey two-run home run.
Charlton County’s defense held Commerce to just one hit over the next two innings.
