The North Platte 80s treated the 300 fans who had given them their biggest turnout of the season at Bill Wood Field on Tuesday with an 8-7 victory over the Blackwell Flycatchers.

The fans showed up for the team’s America 250 celebration, in which the first 250 who showed up received apple pie and ice cream and a fireworks display afterward. Mayor Brandon Kelliher was also on hand to throw out the first pitch.

The 80s (10-20) got off to a good start. In the second inning, Lucas Rincon hit a single up the middle to score the first two runs. Gustavo Rivera also singled up the middle to score another run. Rincon and Rivera teamed up for a double steal to score the next run before Stephen Kent reached base on a wild throw by shortstop Shannon Martin to score another run, making it 5-0.

Blackwell got on the board against pitcher Carson McCurdy in the fourth inning when Michael Alonso hit a two-out triple to center field.

North Platte answered in the bottom of the fourth when McCurdy hit a two-out single to left. But the Flycatchers continued to rally by scoring two more runs in the fifth on a sacrifice fly ball to left by Hunter Daymond and Kabrel Johnson’s two-out single up the middle.

An inning later, Martin hit one to Kent at shortstop and Kent opted to throw to third base to get the third out. But Joseph Boone beat the throw to score another run. The game was tied at 6-6, when Daymond hit a bloop single that landed just beyond the grasp of centerfielder Darrius Bomer to score two runs.

“Blackwell’s a tough team,” 80s Manager Todd Everleth said. “They came to play today. They did their job and we did our job one step better. We let them back in the game but we shouldn’t have.”

But in the bottom of the sixth, the 80s regained the lead when Kent hit a two-out double to left-center field. Blackwell starter Trey Watson was relieved by Isidro Jimenez and he was greeted with a McCurdy single to left that made it 8-6.

Jake Boucher came in to pitch for McCurdy and held the Flycatchers scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings. But in the ninth, Blackwell came within striking distance when Alonso popped one up for what should have been the final out. But it fell right in between second baseman Ivan Santos and McCurdy, who took over at first and it was a one-run game.

With it being past 10 p.m., the postgame fireworks show was in jeopardy. The time limit for it was 11, which would have passed had the game gone into extra innings. Shane Morrow hit a sharp line-drive that was intercepted by the glove of third baseman Tommy Ramos to end the game, securing the win and the fireworks.

“It was a much-needed win,” Everleth said as the fireworks were going off. “We’ve been on the road for nearly the whole month of June. It’s good to end the month with some momentum as we go to Garden City in a couple of days. The guys will get some rest and we’re hurt pretty bad right now. We have a lot of sore muscles and bruises. This should help us get back on track and get our heads on straight.”

Next, the 80s will play three games at the Garden City (Kan.) Wind on Friday-Sunday. After that, they will return home to host the Santa Fe Fuego on July 6-7.

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