GREENEVILLE, Tenn.—The Greeneville Flyboys split a doubleheader with the Bluefield Ridge Runners on Thursday night at Pioneer Park. The Flyboys completed a combined seven-inning perfect game in a 5-0 game one win over the Ridge Runners before dropping game two (seven innings) in a 4-1 loss.
In a game that began Wednesday and was suspended in the fifth inning due to lightning, the Flyboys (27-28) started Thursday with a chance at history. Roan Tarbert (East Georgia State) started things off Wednesday, throwing four perfect innings against Bluefield (26-27) while striking out eight before Tyler Blankenship (Yuba College) (W, 2-2) finished out the perfect game. He went three innings and struck out four. The two combined for the first perfect game in the Appy League in 2022.
The Flyboys entered Thursday’s continuation with a 2-0 lead but added on in the fifth inning after a Myles Smith (UC Irvine) RBI fielder’s choice and a Jack O’Riley (Villanova) RBI single in the seventh. A wild pitch scored Dub Gleed (UC Irvine) and gave the Flyboys the final score of 5-0.
In Game 2, Flyboys’ starter Finn Wall (UC Irvine) exited with an apparent injury after facing just one batter. Ryan Schiefer (Grand Canyon) (L, 1-4) came in for relief and was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on three hits while walking three and striking out seven in 4 1/3 innings. Bluefield’s runs came in a big two-out rally in the fifth inning, where they would take the lead for good. Keylan Newton (USC Beaufort) came in to finish things out for Greeneville, where he went 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out one.
The Flyboys were able to scratch a run across in the bottom of the seventh thanks to O’Riley’s RBI single with two outs, but that’s all Greeneville would get.
Up next, the Flyboys finish out the season with a two-game road series against the Danville Otterbots at Dan Daniel Memorial Park. Game 1 will be Friday, Aug. 5, with the first pitch at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can tune into the free audio streak at flyboysbaseball.com.
