The North Platte 80s scored five runs in the eighth and ninth innings on Monday against the Blackwell, Okla. Flycatchers.

At the halfway point of the season, the 80s and the Flycatchers are the top two teams in a wild card race for two playoff berths in the Pecos League playoffs.

The late rally by the 80s fell one run short of what they needed as they trailed, 9-8, at the end of the game at Bill Wood Field.

“We finally came awake,” 80s Manager Todd Everleth said. “It seemed like we weren’t awake before that. We gave up five errors, which always come back to haunt you. That’s more runs for the other team and we let them have a win. We played hard at the end but we’ve got to play hard for nine.”

The 80s (13-15) came into the bottom of the eighth trailing 8-3. They got started when Alex Kornblau hit a two-run double off the wall in right field. Aidan Diltz hit into a fielder’s choice to make it 9-6.

In the bottom of the ninth, North Platte pulled to within two when Ivan Santos hit a sacrifice fly ball to left for the first out. Mateo Ferguson, who came in at the beginning of the inning to get the save for Blackwell (13-10) was pulled for Tanner Frank.

The 80s came within striking distance when a run scored on a wild pitch by Frank. But with the tying run on third and the winning run on second, Rico Riley and Gustavo Rivera grounded out to end the game and the Flycatchers came away with the win.

“We were more patient at the plate, letting their bullpen get them into trouble and taking advantage of it,” Everleth said. “We were a little impatient early, but the month of June is a learning experience and July is all about putting together what you learned in June.”

North Platte fought from behind the whole game. Blackwell jumped to an early lead when Dominic Scotti hit a two-run home run in the first inning.

The 80s got one of the runs back in the bottom of the first when Sean Bennett hit a two-out single into right. But the Flycatchers expanded their lead, scoring two runs in the third and another in the fourth.

North Platte pulled to within two at 5-3 after Diltz hit a two-out single to right in the fourth and T.J. Beninati hit a sacrifice fly ball to foul territory in right in the fifth. But Jesus Valencia hit a two-run homer in the sixth for Blackwell. The Flycatchers scored two more runs in the inning, chasing 80s starting pitcher Trevor Nelson. Jake Boucher came on in relief.

It wouldn’t be until the eighth inning that North Platte saw Blackwell’s bullpen as Flycatchers starter Glenn Simes pitched seven innings. The 80s took advantage of the relief pitchers with the late-game rally that ultimately fell short.

Win on Sunday

On Sunday, North Platte won the first of the two-game series at home against Blackwell, 10-4.

That game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Bennett brought home the first run for the 80s on a single.

The Flycatchers went on the offensive, scoring two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead. But North Platte scored three in the bottom of the sixth to go back on top.

Blackwell tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the eighth. The 80s erupted in the bottom of the eighth, scoring six runs to pull away from the Flycatchers.

“That was a good win, especially coming off the road,” Everleth said. “We didn’t have to work on the field and the rain has been a lot for us, this season. We’re near .500 and hopefully, we’ll turn it around in July. We’re in playoff contention and we’ll play this team several times in July. It’s gonna be a fight for the wild card.”

Next, North Platte will play three games at the Trinidad Triggers (10-20), another team in the wild card race on July 3-5. Then, the 80s will face the Flycatchers again for six straight games. The first two games will be in Blackwell and the last four will be at Bill Wood Field.

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