Unable to hold a 6-0 lead , the Indians fell in extra innings today against Saugus by a score of 10-9. After jumping to an early lead, defensively the Indians were not able to make key plays , allowing Saugus to rally in the later innings . Seven errors were the difference which allowed Saugus to battle back into the game after trailing by 6 runs after the first 2 innings of play. Offensively, Hart did have 10 hits, and were led by Designated Hitter, Alex Pettee who had 4 hits on the day.

Hart jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, after starting pitcher , Cameron Stoffel, set down the Centurions in the top of the first. Adam Reyes was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After a walk to Logan Foley , Jake Hovis reached base on an error to load the bases with no outs. Alex Pettee singled to score Reyes, and then Jason Rehhaut followed with a double off the fence in right field to score Foley and Hovis, putting the Indians ahead by a score of 3-0. Hart struck again in the 2nd inning, getting 3 more runs on 1 hit and 2 Hit batters. Jake Hovis had a key run scoring single in the inning to stretch the Hart lead to 6-0. Saugus cut the Indian lead in half in their half of the 3rd , the beneficieries of a Hart error and 4 hits given up by starter , Cameron Stoffel. Hart answered with one run in the bottom of the 3rd after Brian Klocko doubled with one out. Adam Reyes then singled home Klocko to give the Indians a 4-run lead going into the 4th. The 4th inning proved to be the key inning of the game, as the Indians let the Centurions back into the game, allowing 4 runs to score in an inning when Saugus was only able to get 2 hits. The difference was 5 errors made by Hart which allowed Saugus to knot the score up at 7-7 after 3 1/2 innings of play.

Hart did respond in the 4th taking the lead back after Alex Pettee led the inning off with his 2nd hit of the day. After advancing to third on a fielders choice and pitchers balk, Pettee came home to score on an Rbi Sacrifice Fly off the bat of Mattie Hernandez. With a 8-7 lead going into the 5th inning, Keon Khatibi came in to relieve Stoffel. In what was turning into a see-saw battle, Saugus once again tied the score by getting 2 singles and a walk off Khatibi . Determined to take the lead back, Hart again answered in the 5th. Logan Foley reached base with one out, getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. After advancing to 2nd on a fielders choice, Alex Pettee scored Foley by driving his third hit of the game to left field to once again put Hart ahead 9-8. Hoping the hold the lead , the Indians once again allowed the Centurions to tie the game in the 6th. From this point on thru the 7th inning , both teams pitching and defense tightened up to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 8th, Saugus took their first and only lead of the game, getting the go ahead run on consecutive hits off of Khatibi. In their half of the 8th, Alex Pettee lead off the inning by lacing a double off the left field fence to put the tying run on second base with one out. However, any hope and chance of the Indians tying or winning the game quickly came to an end as the next 3 hitters flew or popped out , ending the game and putting Harts Foothill league record at 2-3.

Hart next travels to Saugus on Friday for their final meeting of the season against the Centurions at 3:15 pm.

Narrative courtesy of Del Hernandez