Redbirds drop season opener

By Bruce A. Fasol

Boston Red Sox fans can understand how Dustin Hopkins felt after the season opener Tuesday afternoon, at McKee Field. The Red Sox saw a mistake cost them a world championship when they needed just one out. The West Frankfort Redbirds needed just one out as well to wrap up a season opening victory over visiting Carbondale.

The Redbirds went into the seventh inning with a 4-1 lead. Carbondale manage to whittle that lead down to 4-3 but were down to their last out with a man on third base. A wild pitch plated the tying run sending the game into extra innings.

In the eighth inning, Redbird coach Dustin Hopkins said his team “fell apart.” Carbondale plated 6 runs in the extra frame to take a 10-4 lead to the bottom of the inning. The Redbirds could only mount one run in their own comeback effort to take the loss, and open at 0-1 for the 2013 season.

Hitters for West Frankfort included: Sailliez, Keller,Sisk and Drone with a hit apiece. Rich had 2 RBI’s for the ‘Birds. Koehl was 2-4.

Rich took the loss for the Redbirds. The Redbirds are back in action next week.

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