Scouts fall in final game of season

By Luke Severt, Xenia Scouts beat writer

 July 30, 2018

XENIA- On Sunday, the Xenia Scouts decided they weren’t quite ready for the hugs and goodbyes that come with the end of a season, so they decided to play into extra innings.

They would eventually fall to the Richmond Jazz 8-7 in 11 innings, ending their season with a record of 10-32.

Although it would have been nice to end the summer on a high note, Scouts manager Jason Lester was more concerned with allowing as many members of the team as possible to take the field one last time in a Scouts uniform.

He was able to work 13 position players into the lineup throughout the game, and they made it count. They scored eight runs on 10 hits, including multi-hit performances by All-GLSCL Honorable Mention center fielder Cam Murray and catcher Felix King.

The biggest hit of the night, however, came in the bottom of the first inning. With a man on base, first baseman Luke Boylson blasted a 1-2 pitch just over the left-center field fence for his second home run of the year. The packed crowd in the Grady’s Field stands erupted with cheers, making it a special moment for Boylson.

“It felt good,” said Boylson. “Honestly, I didn’t know if I caught it right enough, but it got out and gave my team the early lead. This is my last game and I had to go out with a bang, right?”

On the mound, Owen Pyatt got the start, and also went out with a bang. Arguably the most improved Scout from his first game until the end of the year, Pyatt pitched five innings, giving up only two earned runs on four hits. After giving up 11 runs in his first two outings, he pitched a stretch of 12 1/3 innings over his last five games and only allowed yesterday’s two earned runs in that span.

After the Scouts’ first game in Hamilton against the Joes on June 9, manager Bubba Cates said that he was more concerned about seeing his players improve over the course of the summer than he was about wins and losses. Although Cates was forced to leave the team midseason due to some health issues, Pyatt is a great example of his mission being accomplished.

Boylson believes he improved throughout the year as well. “We play in a good league,” he said. “You gotta build on what you know, you gotta get better, and you either get left behind or you do get better. I felt like I improved as a player and it’s gonna be interesting to see how it goes when I go back to my school.”

Lester, who has constantly reiterated that he believes adversity builds character, agreed that every member of his team improved.

“Great group of guys,” said Lester when asked to reflect on the season. “As much trouble as we had in different situations, struggles we had, they’re gonna stand out on their college teams. I hope the best for these guys.”

For Boylson, Lester and the rest of the Scouts, it was tough to say goodbye.

“It was a crazy ride,” said Boylson about the summer. “You build lifelong relationships for just two months and you spend pretty much every day with them, and you get really close and then you have to go back to school.

“It’s definitely tough, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”