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FAIRFIELD — There was a winner, a loser and a whole bunch of people shaking their heads Friday night, May 9, at Waterworks Park.

The Fairfield High School baseball team rallied to defeat visiting Edgewood 7-5 in a five-inning contest, with the two squads scheduled to meet again Monday in a Division I sectional opener at EHS.

What made this a little different was the fact that the two umpires, Chris Rought and Doug Dukes, ended the game in what they called the interest of safety. On a misty night under the lights, balls were hard to see and lost in the air a couple times, so the umpires decided to send everybody home.

It wasn't a satisfying decision for either side, and that included Fairfield coach Larry Price.

"It was weird," he said. "My kids never did actually complain about not seeing the ball. But baseball is a game where balls travel fast and are tough to see, and I don't know that I've ever played a game at night where there wasn't some difficulty seeing the ball.

"I don't really feel like I was a player in this discussion," he continued. "I didn't start the discussion, and I didn't end it. But I'm sure it gave Edgewood some ammunition to fire at us Monday."

The game-winning hit, a two-run double by Ryan Groene in the bottom of the fifth, was clearly lost in the lights by the Cougars' left and center fielders.

Edgewood coach Brian Caudill said safety is a big concern. Asked if he felt the game should've been stopped because balls were hard to see, he managed a wry smile.

"The umpires said they tried the new baseballs and they clearly didn't work because we lost another ball," Caudill said. "It is what it is. What are you going to say? We've got to live with their decision. At the same time, we've got a game to play Monday."

The Indians (9-14) scored six times in the fifth against Edgewood freshman Stephen Holland, who was lifted in favor of Brian Sorrell after his fourth walk of the inning.

"Stephen got a little tired at the end, but he really threw the baseball well tonight," Caudill said. "He's going to be a four-year kid in our program. We feel very good about that."

Gio Silvani went the distance on the mound for the Tribe. Groene had two hits and three RBIs, Cory Holt doubled, and Brennan Croy and Michael Haney added RBIs.

Josh Crout tripled, singled and scored two runs for the Cougars (15-11). Cody Leichman chipped in two hits and an RBI, Justin Elder had two hits, and Brennan Kelly and Stephen Hodges drove in a run apiece.

"Edgewood outplayed us," Price said. "But our kids do have a knack of not quitting."

Alex Johnson will be the Tribe's starting pitcher Monday. Cole Ewen is set to throw for Edgewood.

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