Bishop England Falls Short in AA Baseball Final

The Bishops left a lot of runners on base in their AA State Championship series fianle loss to Chesnee Friday.

The Eagles pulled into the lead with a run in the fourth inning and extended it to 5-0 after adding another four runs in the fifth. Bishop England threatened a comeback, plating three runs in the seventh then loading the bases again before Chesnee managed to make the game's final out, the Post and Courier reports (subscription required).

Bishop England also loaded the bases in the third inning before a double play sent the Bishops back into the field.

But it was a controversial call in the fifth inning that led to Chesnee's margin of victory. With the bases loaded and two outs Bishop England pitcher Patrick Clarey tried to pick off the runner at third base. The umpire called him safe, but BE Coach Mike Darnell disagreed and left the dugout to unsuccessfully argue the call. Clarey wound up walking that batter, putting Chesnee up 2-0. Relief pitcher Jamie Garret was called in and gave up a three-run triple to the next batter.

Bishop England rallied in the seventh inning, lashing together four singles a walk and a hit batter for three runs.

The win gives Chesnee its second state title in four years, and it ends Bishop England's recent streak of state title wins in odd numbered years. From 2003-'11 the Bishops won five state titles all of which came in odd numbered years.