WATERFORD - Waterford seemed to be on its way to a win over Wood County Christian Tuesday, as the green and white held a 10-3 advantage going into the fifth inning.
When thunder struck just as Waterford was about to begin warming up, umpires suspended the game at approximately 7:30 p.m.
The game had already went through about an hour-long delay due to thunder earlier in the evening, but it looked like the teams would be able to finish the contest.
JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times
Waterford’s Cody Paxton takes a cut against WCCS Tuesday.
It was not to be, however, as the thunder continued and the game was suspended.
"We tried," said Waterford head coach Chad Augenstein.
"The game-plan is we're gonna shoot for finishing the varsity (on Thursday)."
Waterford 10, Wood County Christian 3 (Play suspended due to thunder)
Wood County Christian 120 0xx x - 3 3 5
Waterford 360 1xx x - 10 8 2
Wood County Christian: Luke Davis 4IP, 4SO, 2BB
Waterford: Mitch Ginther 1.2IP, 2SO, 3BB, Cam Bosner .1IP, Josh Schaad 2IP, 2SO, 1BB
Wood County Christian: Joey Wallace 0-0, 1R, 2BB, D.J. Spencer 1-3, 1R, Mitch Morris 1-2, 1R, Hannah Lord 1-2, 2RBI, 2B, Davis 0-1, 1BB, 1HBP, Heather Lord 0-1, 1BB, Scotty Heslop 0-1, 1BB
Game to be resumed Thursday at 5 p.m. at Waterford
The game is expected to be resumed at 5 p.m.
An error by Waterford in the top of the first inning led to a run for WCCS, but the green and white answered nicely with a three-spot in the bottom half of the inning.
Devyn Farley hit a one-out single to center field to start the rally and went to third when Brian Moore doubled to left field. Next, Cody Paxton flied to left field, but the ball was dropped, allowing Farley and Moore to score. Paxton made it to third on a throwing error on the play.
Devon Patterson, who has now hit safely in seven straight ballgames, doubled to left-center field to bring in Paxton and make it a 3-1 game.
WCCS tied things up at 3-all in the top of the second. Joey Wallace walked and Mitch Morris singled to put two runners on with two outs. Hannah Lord cashed in with a two-run double to left to knot the score.
The Wildcats of Waterford surged for six runs in the bottom of the second to retake the lead.
Kyle Miller and Moore each tripled in the inning while Paxton doubled and Patterson singled to fuel the rally.
Later in the fourth, after the first delay, Patterson single-handedly manufactured a run for Waterford to make it a 10-3 game. After singling to center, the senior outfielder stole second and third and then came home on a wild pitch.
Overall Patterson was 3-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Moore also had multiple hits for Augenstein's club.
"Our bats have finally come alive," Augenstein said.
"(Patterson) is seeing the ball exceptionally well, as well as everybody else. When one goes we seem to all follow now. I can't ask for a better group of guys going at it."
While Luke Davis pitched all four innings for WCCS, striking out four and walking two, Mitch Ginther, Cameron Bosner and Josh Schaad combined for the four innings of work on the mound for Waterford. Schaad went the longest, striking out two and walking one in two innings of relief. Waterford's record on the season is 3-9.