Decatur game postponed due to lightning in fifth inning

Gators had strong hold of the ballgame, leading 7-1 before postponment

By Benjamin Ray • March 23, 2023 1:58 pm

The Decatur Gators baseball game was postponed on March 23 in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Auburn Mountainview Lions.

Decatur was leading 7-1 in the frame, but the Lions had two runners on base before the game was postponed because of weather.

In the fifth inning, it began to rain for about three minutes, and at the end of the shower, there was a lightning flash in center field. It was at 9:14 p.m., which meant the game had to restart as early as 9:34 p.m. By the time the teams made it out for the end of the game, it was cancelled.

This was not the first cancellation. After the first inning, the Gator hitters were informed to not get ready to hit until the lights came on. It took 30 minutes for the Lions field crew and coaches to get the lights turned on, warmed up and ready for action.

The Gators got on the board in that first inning. Senior Jack Bergstrom reached base on an error and later scored on a wild pitch, giving Decatur a 1-0 advantage.

Decatur starting pitcher JJ Henning, after his first inning, had a 53 minute break after the first inning and the light delay. During the second inning was the inning the Lions got their one run of the game. A first batter hit by a pitch along with a single put the Lions on the front foot in the inning. A balk put the runners on second and third, and an RBI fielder’s choice scored the first run for the Lions, tying the game 1-1.

In the third, the Gators scored more runs to increase the lead over the Lions. Brayden Larson got on base with a lead-off walk, and Bergstrom followed that up with a single of his own. They both scored on a fielder’s choice and error on the Lions defense, putting the Gators up 3-1.

The Gators doubled their total in the fourth inning. The catalyst of Larson and Bergstrom gave Decatur the jolt they needed. With one out in the fourth, Larson drove in one run with a double in the right center gap. Bergstrom scored Eric Havili and Larson on a single to right field. The Gators were leading 6-1 after four.

Decatur extended their lead to 7-1 in the fifth before the game was postponed. Aiden Reade hit a one-out single and advanced to third over the course of Diego Cigarro’s at bat. Cigarro hit a ground ball to third base with Reade’s aggressive base running and scored on the ball in play.

The game was postponed in the bottom of the fifth inning and continued the following day.