First win for Martin Chapel
The wait is finally over for Martin Chapel Fellowship.
After spending the first half of the Church League season searching for its first victory, Martin Chapel broke through Tuesday night at Edley Newman Field, knocking off Hebron Church of Christ 15-13 behind a complete team effort and a memorable father-son battery.
David Beard was in the circle pitching while his father, Terry Beard, handled the duties behind the plate as the duo helped guide Martin Chapel to its first win of the season. The pair did damage at the plate too. Terry reached base in all four of his plate appearances, while David collected three hits, including an RBI during a pivotal sixth inning that broke an 11-11 tie and helped Martin Chapel finally enter the win column.
The breakthrough victory came in the middle game of a night that also saw New Union reclaim sole possession of first place and Rock Island Church of Christ continue its climb up the standings.
The evening opened with the latest chapter in the season-long battle between New Union and Living Word Fellowship.
Just two weeks after Living Word won the first meeting between the league's unbeaten teams, New Union returned the favor in emphatic fashion.
Trailing 9-4 entering the fourth inning, New Union erupted for 12 runs to seize complete control in a 20-11 victory that moved the team back into first place.
When the lineup turned over, Trace Taylor helped ignite the rally. Taylor, Don Smith and Corey Richardson Jr. each collected two hits during the inning as New Union's offense kept the carousel moving and turned a five-run deficit into a commanding advantage. By the time the inning ended, New Union had reclaimed not only the lead in the game, but the top spot in the league standings.
Rock Island closed the night by holding off Holy Sticks 15-12 in another game that wasn't decided until late.
Clinging to a one-run lead entering the fifth, Rock Island created breathing room with a five-run inning. Logan Bundy got things started from the bottom of the order, reaching base and eventually scoring as part of a 2-for-3 night.
The top of the lineup carried the offense throughout the contest. Talan Mullican and John Garrett each finished 4-for-4, while Alex Walker joined the trio in helping produce the decisive fifth-inning rally.
Holy Sticks refused to go quietly. Ethan Basham, Slayden Rogers, Ryan Cooper and Tucker Slatton strung together hits in the bottom of the inning to chip away at the deficit, but Rock Island never allowed the tying run to reach the plate and secured one of its biggest wins of the summer.
Men's standings
New Union 8-1
Living Word Fellowship 8-2
Holy Sticks 6-4
Rock Island Church of Christ 4-5
Hebron Church of Christ 4-6
Freedom Life 2-7
Martin Chapel Fellowship 1-8
Previous scores
June 23
Living Word Fellowship 14
Freedom Life 11
Hebron Church of Christ 15
Holy Sticks 12
Living Word Fellowship 11
Hebron CoC 7
June 25
Rock Island Church of Christ 18
Freedom Life 14
Holy Sticks 15
Rock Island CoC 0
June 30
New Union 20
Living Word Fellowship 11
Martin Chapel Fellowship 15
Hebron CoC 13
Rock Island CoC 15
Holy Sticks 12
Women’s Division
Bibles on Base finally broke into the win column last week, but Rock Island Church of Christ made sure the celebration was short-lived.
After dropping a 17-9 decision to Bibles on Base on June 23, Rock Island answered with a convincing 19-4 victory Tuesday night to split the season series.
Bibles on Base's breakthrough victory was highlighted by a balanced offensive attack that produced its first win of the summer and snapped the team's season-opening losing streak.
Rock Island wasted little time responding one week later. The offense piled up runs early and often, rolling to a run-rule victory that evened the season series and improved the team to 3-3 on the year.
With the split, Centertown United Methodist Church remains atop the women's standings at 6-1, followed by Rock Island at 3-3 and Bibles on Base at 1-7.
