After pushing across a run in the top of the ninth inning to take a 2-1 lead, the Fatima Comets were just three outs from a win Tuesday against the Helias Crusaders.
They got one. Then the rain and lightning came at the American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.
The game was called in the bottom of the ninth by the umpiring crew. By rule, because the inning did not finish, the game reverts back to the start of the ninth tied at 1.
"We hope to reschedule, that's all we can do," Fatima coach Scott Kilgore said. "Whether I agree with it or not, that's the decision."
Helias coach Chris Wyrick can understand Fatima's frustration.
"It's unfortunate, but the rule really benefits us in this situation," Wyrick said.
The date for the resumption was not decided Tuesday.
III
For the first eight innings, the Crusaders and Comets were locked up in a good old-fashioned pitchers duel.
The starting pitchers - senior Logan Vogel for Fatima and senior Todd Buschjost for Helias - both allowed just one run in going 5-plus innings.
Helias got its run in the second. Alex Faddoul led off with a one-hop triple off the fence in right-center before scoring on a fielder's choice off the bat of Chase Bexten.
"Alex is going to go up there and attack the ball," Wyrick said.
Vogel was pulled after allowing a leadoff single in the sixth. He allowed three hits and three walks while striking out four.
"That's typical Logan, he's a competitor," Kilgore said.
The Crusaders had trouble getting comfortable in their at-bats.
"Logan does a great job of putting the ball where he wants it, changing speeds, trying to keep you off-balance," Wyrick said.
Fatima tied it in the sixth off Buschjost. Austin Schubert was hit by a pitch to start the inning and was sacrificed to second by Vogel. Schubert then scored on a single by Jared Schulte.
Will Robertson then singled to put runners at the corners and Buschjost was replaced on the mound by Clayton Winter. Robertson then stole second before Hunter Hennier walked to load the bases.
But Winter retired the next two Comets by strikeouts to keep the game tied at 1.
In 51/3 innings, Buschjost allowed three hits and a walk while striking out nine. Winter then worked the next 32/3 innings, giving up a run on three hits while striking out six.
If you add it up, 15 of Fatima's 27 outs came via strikeouts.
"We had too many strikeouts," Kilgore said. "Too many called strikes. But we have a lot of potential and once we find a groove, we're going to get comfortable at the plate and start to hit the ball a lot better."
Fatima reliever Brady Weavers kept Helias in check, retiring the first eight batters he faced. He walked one and struck out four in 31/3 innings.
"Brady is such a competitor," Kilgore said.
Wyrick believes the Crusaders were too passive at the plate Tuesday.
"I bet we took 25, maybe 30 fastballs for strikes," he said. "And that's about 25 or 30 too many. You are going to have trouble beating anybody, much less a team as good as Fatima, when you do that.
"I don't know if it is a lack of confidence or first-game jitters, but we have to be better than that."
The first rain drops started to fall as the game moved into the eighth. Both teams got a runner on in that inning, but couldn't score and the game went to the ninth.
In Fatima's half of the ninth, Sam Hagar led off with a single. One out later, he stole second. After a strikeout, Alex Dickneite singled to score Hagar.
But that's when the bolt of lightning brought a pause to the proceedings. And after 45 minutes to steady rain, the game was called.
"You have to be proud of both teams, they were both competing hard out there," Kilgore said.
Helias had a player thrown out on the bases and another picked off first in the contest.
"We were having problems executing offensively," Wyrick said. "And that's why we're in the situation we're in."
Both teams are scheduled to be in action Thursday.
Fatima (2-0) is slated to take on St. Elizabeth in the opening round of the three-game Show-Me Conference Tournament in Russellville.
"An extra-inning game was not exactly what we wanted right now," Kilgore said.
Helias is scheduled to host Boonville starting at 5 p.m.