Michael Young - Sports Editor

Bolt Richardson with Spec's Vision slings a pitch.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Seth Pritchard with Kinard's Used Cars drills one toward home plate.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Keviee Smith with Doc Depot awaits a pitch in the game against Kinard's Used Cars.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Kyle Kinard with Kinard's Used Cars snaps at a loose ball at the catcher's position.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Coaches with the Query Pritchard Construction team talk to the players during a break.

Michael Young - Sports Editor

Cody Still with the Sport's Convenience Store team rifles one home.

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A sign of relief came across the face of Lee Richardson, coach of the Spec's Vision following his team 9-8 victory over Kinard's Used Cars Saturday at Lemon Park.

Leading by seven runs in the last inning, Spec's Vision needed only one out to wrap up the win.

However, Kinard's Used Cars didn't go down without a fight. Sparked by a two-run RBI double by Tyler Hutto, Kinard's stormed back with six runs to narrow the lead to 9-8.

With a batter at the plate and a runner at second base, Kinard hope to keep the rallying going in the inning.

However. the Spec's players ended their hopes, surviving a late scare for a 9-8 victory.

Boldt Richardson was the hero of the day for Spec's Vision as he struck out the last batter to end the game.

With the win, Spec's Vision of the minor league (8 to-9-year-olds) division improves to 2-1 in the season half of the season.
"This was too close for comfort," Richardson said.

"I thought we played a good game, but we got a little careless in the last inning. I have give credit to the other team, they battled to the final out."

Kinard's Used Cars coach Mike Pritchard said despite the early deficit, the team never gave up.

"This is a great testimony to the character of these youngsters," Pritchard said. "Early in the game, things weren't going our way. We had a few errors and got behind. However, we never hung our heads. We kept playing hard and with a lot of heart. Overall I was very pleased with performance of my players."

The contest got off to a fast start with each team providing fireworks at the plate with their first at-bats. For Spec's Vision Richardson, Josh Shealy had a lead off single, then stole second.

One batter later, Shealy came home from a single by J.D. Bailey. Moments later, Richardson cleared the bases with a two-run homer to put the team ahead to 3-0.

In the bottom half of the first inning, Kinard got its bats going. Devan Mack singled, then scored off an RBI double by Cole Kearse to cut the lead at 3-1.

In the following inning, Spec's Vision plated two runs off three hits for a 5-1 advantage.

For Spec's Vision, Shealy and Richardson singled and scored. Kamon Craddock was credited with an RBI.

Ahead 5-1, Spec's Vision looked to put the game away in the fourth inning. Fueled by a two-run RBI single by Earl Bostick Jr, the team scored three runs for a 8-1 lead. Players scoring in the inning included Richardson, Lawson Detrick and Shealy.

After four innings that produced only two runs and five hits, Kinard got things rolling at the plate in the fifth inning. Colton Bolen got the troops going with a single down the left field line. Bolen then advanced to second on a stolen base. The next batter, Matthew Renew, belted a single into the outfield, scoring Bolen. Moments later, Mack clocked a single, scoring Renew to cut the lead at 9-4.

Kinard's next four batters all delivered as Seth Pritchard, Kyle Kinard, Cole Kearse and Hutto all singled as Kinard narrow the lead to 9-8.

Down by one run with the tying run on second base, Kinard comeback attempt ended with the last batter getting out to end the game.