By Trace Fowler

CHILLICOTHE- VA Memorial Stadium hosted one of the most thrilling games of the young 2012 tournament. The No. 21 Athens Bulldogs and Fairfield Union Falcons needed extra frames to declare a victor.

At the start, Athens right-handed pitcher Alex Staron and Fairfield Union’s left-handed pitcher Jordan Barr seemed to be heading towards bridge never crossed.

Neither pitcher gave up a hit until a bunt base hit ended Barr’s no hitter attempt in the fourth. Then, a couple of hitters later, Chris Ford drove in the games first run giving Athens a 1-0 lead.

Athens would extended their lead on a big two out base hit by Casey Grimm to stretch the lead to 3-0. Devon Palmer would replace Barr on the mound and give up a RBI single to Jacob Schriner, giving the Bulldogs a commanding 4-0 lead. 

Athens seemed to punch their ticket for a date with Unioto in the district championship. The only question was, could Alex Staron finish his no hit bid?

Only six outs away from a complete game, Staron allowed the first two runners to reach base, and just like that, the tension began to mount.

Chris Ford came on to relieve Staron. After inheriting two runners. Ford forced a Falcon ground ball but an infield error allowed a run to score cutting the lead to 4-1, and brought the tying run to plate.

Baring down, Ford struck out the next batter to pull the Bulldogs within an out of a win. But, Devon Palmer, who relieved Barr, and also ended Staron’s no hitter, had other plans. 

With the game on the line, Palmer laced a line drive that rolled all the way to the warning track.

As the play unfolded, Athens outfielders had trouble reaching the ball and relaying it into the infield.

To the amazement of the crowd, Palmer stretched his triple into a game tying inside the park round homerun.

Eventually, Ford recorded the third out of the inning leaving the game tied at 4-4.

Athens would have an opportunity in the bottom half of the 7^th to turn Palmer’s epic play into a distant memory.

The Bulldogs proceeded to load the bases with one out, but Palmer once again made an impact. The Falcon right-hander induced an inning ending 4-6-3 double to turn the inning over.

In the extra frame, Fairfield Union induced back-to-back leadoff walks giving the Falcons a golden opportunity. After a failed bunt attempt to move the runners seemed to deaden the rally, Coach Burke signed a double steal. A throwing error by Athens allowed Fairfield Union to take a 5-4 lead.

In the bottom half, Athens’ Cody Mack earned a one out walk but Devon Palmer shut the door with back-to-back pop outs to end the roller coaster of a game.

Fairfield Union is set to take on Unioto for the district championship on Wednesday at 5:00pm at VA Memorial Stadium.