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By Andrew Smith

The Greeneville Flyboys (26-26) defeated the Elizabethton River Riders (21-25) on Monday night by a final score of 7-2. Flyboys center fielder Myles Smith went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI.

The win allowed the Flyboys to create separation from the River Riders in the Appy League West standings, as they moved two games in front of Elizabethton for third place in the division. They also became just a half game behind Johnson City for second place.

Greeneville striked first in the top of the first inning. Smith led off the game with an infield single before moving to third base on a passed ball and a stolen base. Then, catcher Cameron LaLiberte singled to score Smith. The Flyboys led 1-0 before starter Nate Kiser threw a pitch.

The early scoring would not stop there for the Flyboys, as they tacked on two more in the second. After a pair of walks, Smith hit a two-out double to left to clear the bases, extending the Greeneville lead to 3-0.

The River Riders were able to get on the board in the bottom of the third. First, second baseman Juan Zorola hit a low line drive into the River Riders bullpen in right field for a home run in his first Elizabethton at-bat. Then, designated hitter Reagan Guthrie hit an RBI groundout to bring home center fielder Brendan Jones. After three full innings, it was 3-2 Flyboys.

Greeneville added on some insurance in the later innings, scoring two runs in both the seventh and the eighth. The seventh two runs score on one sacrifice fly. The runner on third, shortstop Alex Diaz, scored on the play itself. Smith, the runner on second, tagged up and moved to third, before scoring as well when the throw back into the infield got away.

In the eighth, third baseman Jack O’Reilly led off with a single. He then came home on a triple by second baseman Maddox Mihalakis in the right-center gap. Mihalakis scored as well, as first baseman David Bishop hit a foul pop up on the right side. With Rider first baseman Carlo Zorola going back to make the catch, Mihalakis tagged up and scored on the play. That made the game 7-2, and it would stay that way.

The two teams will play for one last time this season tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Northeast Community Credit Union Ballpark.

Final                        R      H      E      LOB

Flyboys                    7      10      1       6

River Riders           2       6       2       5

 

W: Jacob Willett (1-0)

L: Jackson Holmes (4-2)