One run is all that separated the playoff-bound Silver Lake baseball team from a Patriot League title.
Ultimately, they did not get the win in what turned out to be the league championship game, but the Lakers made a strong effort and put together a convincing comeback effort in their 6-5 road loss to the Whitman-Hanson Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
A five-run fourth inning made the difference in the contest. Heading into the inning, the game was tied at one apiece but by end of it, Whitman-Hanson led, 6-1.
The Lakers first score of the game came in the top half of the first inning. With one out, Dan Collins knocked in an RBI single, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Josh Harvey, who led off the game with a single, scored the run.
Although they trailed heading into the sixth inning, the Lakers did not give up. In all, they tacked on three runs, making it a 6-4 game. The Lakers got two of their runs on a single from Connor Molloy. Harvey drove in the other run, also with a single.
In the top of the seventh, the Lakers comeback effort got shut down. Before they were done though, Matt Bettle hit a sacrifice fly — which scored Collins — to make it a 1-run game. The sac fly, however, came when there was already an out in the inning, so the next out ended the ballgame.
The Lakers reached base in every single inning of the game.
Albeit they did not get the league title, the Lakers are still having a strong year and are in position for a potentially deep playoff run. After all, they were 12-6 on the year.
The Lakers wrap up their regular season at home on Friday, May 26 against St. John Paul II, a private school in Hyannis (Barnstable, Mass.). First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. in that one.