PORT NECHES — There is never telling what might happen when Port Neches-Groves and Nederland get together to play any sport.
It felt like everything happened Thursday when the Indians defeated the Bulldogs 3-2 on a seventh-inning fielder’s choice by Logan LeJeune.
PN-G (9-6, 3-1) got another gutsy performance from Ryan Leckich who was pitching just two days after throwing two innings in a win over Lumberton.
Leckich settled down after giving up two runs in the first inning off a RBI double by Nederland (7-7, 3-1) shortstop Zack Friesz to score Kevin Kolb. Friesz came in to score when Chase Kemp hit into a double play.
Leckich gave up four hits and struck out 11 in his first five innings of work before PN-G coach Scott Carter called on Carter Henry to close it out.
Henry lasted only two batters before the home plate ejected the senior for using a curse word after collecting a strike out.
“I don’t agree with it,” Carter said of the ejection. “I think it was a situation where there was two ball clubs in a very emotional game. It really wasn’t really being taunting it was more this is Mid County Madness. The ejection was not my call so we had to live with but I wish the umpire would have come to me and let me handle it. Let us fix the problem in a game like this.”
Carter then had to go back to Leckich to finish the game. Leckich tallied up three more strikeouts and only allowed one base runner.
“My adrenaline was out the roof after the ejection so I couldn’t not come back in,” Leckich said. “My pitch count was pretty low so I felt good.”
It took until the fourth inning for the Indians to get a hit off Nederland sophomore starter Braydon Credeur.
Credeur worked 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on two hits with three strikeouts and four walks.
Adam Morse picked up the first PN-G hit with one out in the fourth but was eventually thrown out at third.
The second Indians hit came off the bat of shortstop Nathan Vidrine who drove in two runs on a single to tie the game at 2-2.
Chase Kemp finished the game for Nederland and allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
Kolb finished 1 for 4 at the plate with a run and Friesz was 1 for 3 with a run and a RBI. Kolb and Friesz both hit doubles.
Vidrine was 2 for 3 for PN-G with two RBI and a double.