Knights three game win streak snapped in loss to Xtreme

The West Palm Beach Knights (15–15) were defeated by the Palm Beach Xtreme (24–9) on Tuesday morning by a score of 9–5. It was a tie game after four, but from that point on West Palm Beach was outscored 6–2.

The Knights faced an early 2–0 deficit after one, but were able to get back in the game with errors and walks. As Jimmy Kemp was headed to first base, Xtreme pitcher Kevin Heinrich threw a ball away from Logan Rose which allowed Paret to make it home to put the Knights on the board. With two outs, Dominik Ramil was hit by a pitch that led to the bases being loaded for West Palm Beach to get more runs in. In the following at bats, Andrew Eppinger and Drew Winters were walked to bring in two more runs and the Knights now led 3–2 going into the next inning.

Errors were also made in the third, but this time benefitting Xtreme. A pass ball was able to get Rose on third base after he was on second base with a double. And shortly after, Kobe Benson hit a single to bring in Rose for the game-tying run.

Going to the fifth, Palm Beach regained control of the game with an RBI double from centerfielder Asher Akridge and another run scored by Drew Morse gave Xtreme a small cushion. But the Knights would remain close as Jimmy Kemp responded with an RBI double of his own to bring in Andres Paret and Tyler Cox to make it a 6–5 ballgame going into the sixth.

The Knights would have a great opportunity to regain momentum, as the bases were loaded with Kemp at-bat, but Colby Stabile struck out Kemp and ended the inning.

Palm Beach would then score three unanswered to pull away from West Palm Beach with the final blow being a solo home run from Brett Young who now has two on the season.

West Palm Beach had another chance to put more runs on the board with the bases loaded in the bottom eighth, but Sam Holtz had a fly out to right field that ended the inning and essentially any chance for a comeback as the Knights only had one runner on base in the ninth.

Other notes:

Garrick Murray appeared to have discomfort in his lower back and only pitched for two innings, he was replaced by Bodey Ellis.

Brad Skinner also made his first appearance of the season. Skinner played for the Knights in 2020 and 2021, but this year he has taken the role of coaching the pitchers.

Pitching:

Colby Stabile earned the win for Palm Beach and is his first for the year. For the Knights, Bodey Ellis was given the loss, his second this summer.

Up Next:

The Knights will travel to Little Fenway on Wednesday as they face the Delray Beach Lightning (22–10). West Palm Beach will look to take the series as they have a 2–1 lead over the Lightning. In their last matchup, Delray Beach defeated the Knights 9–3. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 PM.