MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Post 136 Knox County Royals ran out of comebacks on Tuesday.
After rallying twice in regulation against Granville Post 398, the Royals allowed a run in the eighth inning to fall at home, 8-7.
The Royals (14-6) trailed, 5-2, when they scored three runs on three consecutive errors in the bottom of the fifth. Then, after giving up two runs, the team tied it again in the seventh when J.D. Orr knocked in Nick Mazgay and Kory Shackle with a one-out, two-RBI double.
Orr made it as far as third, but was stranded when Granville’s Ethan Fleming was brought in to pitch with two outs. Fleming struck out Alex Arck looking at a 3-2 pitch that appeared to be around the ankles.
Granville scored in the eighth when Chad Kozman reached on a two-base error by the third baseman. He scored on a Tay Compton two-out double.
Mount Vernon was retired in order in the bottom of the frame.
“We had our chances,” said K.C. Royals head coach Mike King. “We climbed the mountain a couple of times, but couldn’t get over the hump. Seems like every time we made a mistake defensively, they scored.”
The Royals had plenty of chances to score more. Seven times, runners were stranded in scoring position.
Duke Cunningham started on the mound for the Royals, allowing four earned runs on four hits while striking out four. Josh Edwards came on in relief and took the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) in four innings while striking out five.
