MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon’s Yellow Jackets lost to Olentangy Orange for the second time this week on Wednesday afternoon, extending the undefeated Pioneers into extra innings before dropping a 4-3 decision at Jackets Field.
Mount Vernon fought back from deficits twice, and the game was deadlocked 3-3 after seven regulation innings. But with a little help from teammate Anthony Mancini, brothers Billy and Cody McCague combined to produce the winning run in the top of the eighth.
Billy McCague, Olentangy’s designated hitter, opened the top of the eighth with the game’s only extra-base hit, a double to deep left that Eric Ashbrook couldn’t quite get under. Mancini advanced McCague to third with a well-executed sacrifice bunt, bringing Cody McCague to the plate.
Jackets coach Matt Smith pulled his infield in close, and pitcher Shawn Maxwell battled to a 1-2 count. But McCague then connected on a fly out to Kory Shackle in center field, and Shackle’s long throw to the plate was too late to prevent Billy McCague from scoring.
