River Cats hold off Sidewinders, win 5-4

The Sidewinders and River Cats took a break from inter-league action June 24 to make up a May 18 rescheduled Houk/Ice League game.

Despite a Sidewinders’ attempt at a comeback late in the game, the River Cats won 5-4.

Sidewinders coach Brian Segebrect said even though the Sidewinders lost, it was a well-played game by both teams. He was impressed with his team and the way they executed the hit-and-run. A strong performance from pitcher Eric Stobaugh kept the Sidewinders close to the River Cats throughout.

“I thought we really hard and clicked as a team,” Segebrect said.

River Catscoach John Maynard agreed that both teams played hard.

“It was one of the best-played league games all year,” said Maynard, who played high school baseball with Segebrecht.

Maynard said the game showed the balance of teams within the league, and was a good reflection of the purpose of the league and the preseason draft.

Both coaches said they have seen a lot of progression in their players since the beginning of the year. Segebrecht said the Sidewinders are playing teams closer than they did earlier in the season when they were run-ruled a couple times.

Maynard said his team made a lot of errors in the beginning, but he has enjoyed seeing his team’s play improve, especially moving runners with bunts.

Third baseman John Lesher hit a two-run home run for the River Cats that brought in Ryan Taylor.

Sidewinders Robb Yogi Ferguson slides into River Cats catcher Chase in a June 23 Houk/Ice league game. The River Cats won the game 5-4.

As league play approaches the midway point of the season with the interleague portion of the schedule with teams from the Heinrich and Houk/Ice leagues facing off, Segebrecht said it presented a welcome challenge for the Sidewinders.

Maynard thought interleague play would make the level of competition rise without many lopsided games.

The Louie Holcom Amateur Baseball Assn. recently decided that the interleague wins and losses would not count in the standings. Segebrecht said that although he does not think records are too important, he still thinks the interleague games should count.

Interleague play will continue until June 30. The LHABA will have its annual all-star game July 3 at Holcom Red field.

Although Segebrecht and Maynard agree that the LHABA league is more laid back than the competitive baseball they played in high school, they both enjoy the level of play of their teams.

“The kids in this league choose to have more fun,” Maynard said.

NOTE: This story has been corrected to fix errors in the original story in print.