Connersville

The CMS 8th Grade Baseball team showed plenty of fight Tuesday night, nearly erasing an early deficit before coming up just short in a 10-9 loss to Knightstown in a five-inning battle. Connersville found themselves in a hole early, trailing 7-2 after three innings. The Spartans chipped away in the fourth, cutting the lead to 7-3, setting the stage for a dramatic final inning. In the bottom of the fifth, CMS erupted for six runs, putting pressure on Knightstown and bringing the tying run within reach. Despite the surge, the comeback effort fell one run short. Offensively, the Spartans were led by Brayden Bell, with a double, while Raylan Runyon paced the lineup with two hits. Additional hits came from Brody Baker, Koleson Gable, and Alexander Struewing. Run production was spread throughout the lineup, with RBIs from Masyn Welter, Baker, Gable, Caesar Orr, and Runyon. The Spartans’ scoring effort included runs from Bell, Baker (2), Gable, Noah Richards, Orr, Braylon Davis (2), and Runyon. The Connersville 8th grade team will look to bounce back as they return home Thursday to face Greensburg at 5:30.