Chatterton leads Gering past Wheatland

A six-run bottom of the eighth carried Gering Platte Valley Companies past Wheatland 12-9 Wednesday night at Oregon Trail Park in Gering.

The explosion helped erase an 8-6 deficit and carry Gering to its third straight win.

Wheatland jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Doug Jones' team started chipping away.

The visitors scored 6-runs on four hits in the fourth inning against Gering pitcher Colin Chatterton, but the lefty regained his composure and kept the visitors at bay until Gering got its offense untracked.

Take away the fourth inning and Chatterton had outstanding numbers, limiting the hard hitting Wheatland crew to three runs on seven hits over the other eight innings. A good effort against a team that entered the contest hitting .375 as a team.

"Colin came over to me with a ball after the game," Jones said. "He said it was a game ball. I told him to keep it. He deserved it.

"He kept his composure after a tough fourth inning," Jones added. "He fielded his position well and delivered some key hits too."

Chatterton started Gering's comeback in the fifth inning with a leadoff walk. He later came around to score the first of three Gering runs in the inning. A two-run single by Zach Smith was the big hit in the inning.

Gering scored one more run in the sixth to pull to within three runs. Seth Holtus hit a one-out double and came in to score on a single by Chatterton.

Platte Valley Companies scored two more in the seventh inning to pull to within 7-6. Danny O'Boyle and Grant Rimington led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Rimington's hit scored O'Boyle, who stole second. The steal was one of three on the night for O'Boyle.

Rimington scored on a one-out single by Josh Bergener.

Wheatland got a solo home run in the top of the eighth from Braden Fagenbush to regain a two-run lead. It was one of two round trippers by the visitors. Shortstop Tim Beckett hit a two-run shot in Wheatland's six-run fourth.

Gering completed its comeback with its eighth inning explosion. Chatterton started that rally with a leadoff double. Pinch hitter Bryce Burkhardt followed with a walk and Nate Marquez knocked in the first run of the inning with a single.

After O'Boyle fouled out Rimington followed with a run scoring single. Platte Valley Companies then received three straight walks. Holtus followed with a run scoring ground out that capped the six-run outburst.

Chatterton wiggled out of a ninth inning jam, allowing one run, and picked up his second win of the season.

The 12-8 Platte Valley Companies team now makes a quick trip east to a Crete hosted tournament. They will play two games Thursday night. They open with Beatrice, at team they faced twice in last years state tournament, at 5:30 p.m. They will follow with a game against Pleasant Dale. After an off day Friday they will tangle with Elkhorn Mt. Michael. They will play Saturday as well against, as of now, an undetermined foe.

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