River Turtles lose regular season finale; head to title game

The Pulaski River Turtles fall to the Bluefield Ridge Runners 7-5 in their regular season finale. Bluefield finishes the season at 27-25 and fourth in the East, while Pulaski finishes the regular season at 32-22.

An RBI single by Tervell Johnson in the first put Bluefield up early and made it 1-0.

The first run for Pulaski came off the bat of Carter Lyles. The pitcher played first baseman tonight, and he made his presence felt with a solo shot to make it 1-1 after four.

The fifth would be the inning where Bluefield took control of the game. A 3-run homer by Ewell and a solo-shot from Spencer Rich Jr. would put Bluefield up 5-1 after five.

Bluefield would add another run in the seventh off a walk with bases loaded and make it 6-1.

Pulaski cut the lead in the eighth off a 2-run moonshot from Cameron Leary and made the game 6-3 after eight.

Bluefield added an insurance run in the ninth off a Kendal Ewell solo shot to left-center field. The game would be 7-3 heading into the ninth.

Pulaski of course wouldn’t let the last night at Calfee Park for the 2021 season end without a little bit of drama. A 2 RBI double by Jackson Beaman put them within two. Pulaski would find the game-tying run at the plate but couldn’t find a way to secure the win.

The win went to Shawn Runey, he pitched one inning, allowed no hits, and did so by striking out the side. The loss went to Ben Plumley, he went two innings, allowed three hits, four earned runs, walked two, and struck out one.

Pulaski will be traveling to Pioneer Park on Monday, August 9 to face the Greeneville Flyboys for the Appalachian League Championship.

By KYLE MANALO