The Tinora Rams had many battles on their hands as they hosted the McComb Panthers Tuesday night from Grube Field in their 2024 Home opener. Although just the Panthers were on the schedule for the night, the Rams also battled rain, winds, lightning, and the final hurdle of the night, darkness.

The evening got underway with the Panther plating three runs off Tinora starter Mason McQuillin. After McQullin retired the opening batter, the next four Panthers would reach, with three of them scoring to give McComb an early 3-0 lead after one-half inning of play.

As the dark clouds and winds intensified as the top of the third started, after the first two Panthers would reach base, the heavens would open up, causing a delay of close to an hour. Along with the heavy rains early, a lighting delay would also add 30 minutes to the nearly 60-minute delay.

After the delay, Hunter Bostelman would come on in relief of McQuillin for the Tinora Rams. With the two Panther runners on base and no one out, Bostelman would strike out the side, keeping the game at 3-0 McComb as the Rams came to bat in the bottom of the third inning.

Connor Wolfrum would start the rally with a leadoff single for the Ram attack. After McComb starter Brandon Shoup would retire the next two Tinora batters, the Rams rally seemed to be flaming out. However, leadoff hitter Ayden Moser would walk, and Wolfrum would score on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 3-1. Tinora senior shortstop Kadyen Radzik would follow with a single, plating Moser to cut the Panthers lead to 3-2.

Up would step junior slugger, Alec Schaublin. Schaublin would send a deep fly to left center, cutting through the stiff wind, for a two-run homrun, putting the Rams on top 4-3 after three innings of play.

McComb would threaten in the top of the fifth, with runners on second and third with just one out, Tinora’s catcher, Alec Schaublin, would catch a Panthers baserunner off second base. Schaublin would fire down to Kadyn Radzik, and Radzik would put the tag on the runner for out number two. Bostelman would get a strikeout to end the inning, thwarting the McComb threat, Tinora led after fie 4-3.

Tinora would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ayden Moser and Kayden Radzik would both reach and score, increasing the Tinora lead to 6-3. Schaublin would supply an RBI single in the inning, as well as Adam Spychalla.

The next two innings were a race to battle darkness. The sun finally peaked through the cloudy skies for the final 30 minutes, allowing the game to be completed as the very last second of daylight disappeared as Rams right fielder Adam Spychala squeezed the final out of the game at 8:03 pm.

The win would go to Hunter Bostelman who pitched near perfect relief.

The loss went to McComb starter Brandon Shoup.

Radzik would pick up three hits for Tinora while Schaublin would pick up three RBI in the win>

McComb was led by Parker Downing with two hits.

Pics courtesy: Nikki Bostelman