Baseball: Gators Fall to Airport 9-8 in Extra Innings on Day 1 of Forest Acres Classic

Despite a 15-9 advantage in hits, River Bluff fell to Airport 9-8 in eight innings on day one of the 2026 Forest Acres Classic at AC Flora High School.

A two-run homerun in the bottom of the first gave Airport an early 2-0 lead. In the second, however, Ashley Powell singled, Ab Wilkerson drew a walk, and Andrew Rye singled to load the bases for the Gators with one out. Banks Alexander singled on a hard grounder to left field, scoring Powell. Then Dominick Norton singled to right, scoring Wilkerson and Rye to give the Gators a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the third, a sacrifice fly scored one for the Eagles, followed by another homerun, which scored two more, putting Airport up 5-3.

Norton homered in the top of the sixth to get the Gators within one at 5-4.

Airport added two more in their half of the sixth inning to gain a 7-4 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, Mason Iser hit a one-out double, Raines singled, and Powell singled to fill the bases for River Bluff. Then, Wilkerson crushed the first pitch deep over the left field wall for a grand slam and a 8-7 River Bluff lead.

Airport tied it up in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

River Bluff could not manufacture a hit in their half of the eighth inning. Airport, however, scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to give the Eagles the 9-8 win.

Dalton Corley got the start for River Bluff and went two and two-thirds innings, giving up five runs (two earned) on four hits and a strikeout. Brooks Peloso pitched three and one-third innings in relief, surrendering two runs on two hits with four strikeouts. Ashley Powell finished the game on the mound for the Gators, giving up two runs on three hits with one strikeout over one and two-thirds innings.

Gator Hitting:

River Bluff will take on the top-ranked Dorman Cavaliers on Tuesday for day two action of the Forest Acres Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.