Western Boone Jr. - Sr. High School

DOVER - It was a tough end to a successful week for the Western Boone baseball team. After a 3-0 start to the week, the Stars saw a late lead slip away against Tri-West on Saturday, allowing seven runs in the sixth inning during a 9-3 loss. "We didn't deserve to win today," Western Boone head coach Michael Nance said. "We pitched the ball terribly, we didn't defend well and we didn't hit when it mattered. We didn't deserve to win." Western Boone led 3-2 heading to the top of the sixth. With the tying run at third with one out, the Stars got a grounder up the middle and appeared like they would have a play at the plate to get the runner, but the ball got past pitcher Levi Stewart and then the throw to first got away. Seven of the next batters would reach, allowing six more runs to score and giving the Bruins the insurmountable lead. "That inning surprised me, I felt good after the five innings," Nance said. "I don't know how we fell apart so fast, but the wheels really fell off there." Four first inning walks allowed the Bruins to take a 1-0 lead, but the Stars tied the game in the second when Carter Marcum led off the inning with a double and eventually scored on a passed ball. Tri-West scored an unearned runs in the third to reclaim the lead, but the Stars added runs in the fourth and fifth on sacrifice flys from Jackson Grimes and Marco Velazquez. Cole Wiley and Marcum each reached twice with a hit and a walk. Layton Yancey walked twice. "We did some things we were supposed to do offensively to get the lead, but in this conference, when you spot somebody nine runs, you aren't going to win," Nance said. The biggest concern for the Stars were the walks allowed by four pitchers. Western Boone only allowed five hits, but walked 10 and struck out only two. "It looked a little bit mental today, but we will get right back to it," Nance said. "They are our guys and we believe in them. We are going to have a bunch of big opportunities next week." The first of those opportunities will be Monday night, when the Stars face Clinton Prairie at Loeb Stadium. Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems.