Parker Neault gets ready to swing in a game against Baker/Powder Valley Bulldogs on April 14. 

The Grant Union/Prairie City Prospectors baseball team fought to the end but lost at home to the 4A Baker/Powder Valley Bulldogs, 14-10.

A combination of walks in the beginning and the end of the game by the Prospectors helped the Bulldogs come out on top on April 14.

“It was a tough one, but the kids rallied really well to take the lead in the sixth inning,” said head coach Doug Sharp. “But our best pitchers in that last inning had a tough time finding the strike zone, and it’s hard to defend a walk.”

The Prospectors had a rough start in the beginning of the game as they gave up four runs, and the score was 5-2 by the end of the second inning.

The Prospectors continued into the third inning with Logan McCluskey pitching. The Bulldogs hit a ground ball back to McCluskey who recorded the first out in the top of the third.

The Prospectors brought in Cooper Peterson to pitch, and they secured the last two outs to close the inning.

In the bottom of the third, Peterson reached base on a single. Next up, AJ McKrola advanced Peterson to second base while being thrown out at first. Peterson took it from there, stealing third and then later stealing home on a passed ball for a run, for a 5-3 score.

Mason Morris was tagged out to end the third.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Bulldogs managed to steal home for another run, 6-3. Morris had two strikeouts in the inning before the Prospectors caught a runner at first base for the last out.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Prospectors managed to get the bases loaded with Tanner Way on third, Parker Neault on second and Dylan Clark on first. An illegal pitch was called, walking McCluskey and scoring Way to make it 6-4.

With the bases still loaded, Kobe Fell was up to bat and hit an RBI single, sending Neault home, 6-5. Peterson struck out to end the inning.

The Prospectors picked up steam again in the bottom of the sixth when they scored 5 runs to take the lead, 10-6. Clark had an RBI single, scoring Neault again. With the bases loaded, Declan Zweygardt smacked the ball into far right field for a double and two RBIs. Riddick Hutchinson got the last two RBIs of the inning.

Even with the momentum from the sixth inning, the Bulldogs came back in the seventh after multiple walks. In the last inning, the Prospectors had eight walks or hit batters, which shifted the lead over to the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs took the lead 14-10 to win the game.

Sharp said he was happy that the Prospectors continued to give it their all and stay focused to finish the game strong. Sharp said there was about a year and a half of experience lost since baseball was cancelled last year due to COVID-19. He also said two of their starters were absent for this game.

“No excuses, but they did a great job,” Sharp said. “They didn’t give up. After five runs in the bottom of the sixth you would think the game is over with, but they competed well and kept with it.”

Games this week have been canceled because of COVID-19 concerns.