Demons edge out victory over Hawks

There was a little bit of everything in Wednesday night?s baseball game in Washington.

The Demons had early defensive struggles, but rallied back multiple times against Central Lee behind the bat of Bryce Craff, who delivered on a go-ahead hit in the sixth inning, giving the Demons a 10-8 victory.

The Demons committed seven defensive errors in the contest, some of which helped Central Lee take an early 2-1 lead after one inning.

A passed ball in the bottom of the second tied the game up for the Demons, while Michael Gier notched an RBI single to give Washington the lead.

A pair of runs scored in the top of the third, putting Central Lee back on top, 4-3.

In the bottom of the third, Craff notched his first big hit of the night after Washington loaded the bases.

Craff sent a ball into left field, clearing the bases with a three-run double, giving the Demons a 6-4 edge.

?I was just looking for the ball to come in so I could smoke it,? Craff said. ?I just wanted to hit the ball.?

Central Lee added a run in the fourth, but the Demons answered on an RBI groundout by senior Michael Ellingson.

Noah Enfield added to the Demons? lead in the fifth with an RBI single, before Central Lee used a three-run top of the sixth to tie the game up at 8.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Aaron Vittetoe notched a single and Zach Londberg claimed a walk. A passed ball sent the Demon baserunners to second and third, and a Cole Embree walk loaded the bases.

Craff notched a single, scoring a pair of Demons, before Dakota Kron shut Central Lee down in the seventh to notch the save.

Despite the seven errors in the contest, Miller said he isn?t concerned about his team, as they move forward to the end of the season.

?I?m comfortable with the guys we have on the field, but we have to stop making the same mistakes all the time,? Miller said. ?We have to start thinking about situational things. Sure, there will be times we won?t be able to make a play, but we have to get the out next time. I like the guys we have, but we just have to have things work a little smoother.?

Matthew Wheeler made his first career start for the Demons, allowing one earned run through three innings, allowing four hits and one walk.

Michael Ellingson came on in relief and was the winning pitcher of record for his three innings of work.

As the Demons prepare for their final conference doubleheaders of the year on Thursday night, the win (which featured two comebacks, before holding off Central Lee in the final frames) should give the team confidence.

?It?s going to help a lot,? Craff said. ?We have to stay down on the ball tomorrow. We can?t be afraid of it.?

Miller said he is hoping his team comes to the park with an aggressive mindset tomorrow.

?I want to see us come to work tomorrow,? Miller said. ?I want to see 2-0, 3-1 hacks. I want to see the ball be missed and be a mammoth fly ball, or I want hard line drives in the gap. I want us to be coming out of our shoes in some swings. (Collin Zear) needs to throw strikes and then our defense needs to be solid.?

First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.