Despite scoring seven runs, the Falcons had a lackluster night, hampered by an (at times) unfocused infield and a short-leashed pitching rotation that resulted in a 9-7 loss to Class 1 Cairo at home on Monday. It was Fayette’s second loss in a row after opening the season 4-0.

On Thursday, Fayette lost a heartbreaker, 9-8, in nine innings against Sturgeon.

“We did not do the little things well. We backslid a little bit watching strikes go down the middle. We were also swinging out of our shoes on balls that were nowhere near the strike zone,” said Fayette coach Andy Oeth. “We can blame it on a lot of things. But those are just excuses.”

Possibly another contribution to the off night Monday was the fact that Coach Oeth announced to his players before the game that this would be his last season in Fayette.

“It might have [been a factor], and that was a risk I had to take because of the schedule. But I think that is an excuse. And I think our guys are bigger than that,” Oeth said. “We haven’t played our best baseball yet, and this is not the team we were through our first five games.”

This season is Oeth’s ninth with the Falcons and his fifth as head coach. His oldest son, senior Payton Oeth, signed to play baseball at State Fair Community College next year with DI aspirations, and he said he wants to be more present for his family.

“It’s something my family and I have been talking about for some time,” he explained. “My oldest is graduating, and I want to be able to see some of his games. My youngest does a lot of things outside of school, and I want to be available for that. I’ve missed a whole lot of his track meets and performances because of coaching. I don’t regret that, but I want to be more present for those things. I have to be a dad and a husband, too. With Payton graduating, this seems like the best time.

“I am absolutely going to miss it dearly. I love what I do, but I love my family more. It’s been a long nine years, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. But it’s time for something different.”

Regardless of the reason, the Falcons were just not themselves on Monday night, committing four errors and striking out nine times. That’s not to say the game was without its highlights. Junior Parker LaValley continues to hit well, finishing 1-for-2 with a double, three walks, and two RBI. Leadoff hitter, senior Caleb Craig, provided a spark at the plate with a 4-for-5 performance with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. Payton Oeth went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Sophomore James Hogg anchored the bottom of the lineup, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the No. 7 spot.

Overall, Fayette drove in five of its seven runs on 10 hits and eight walks against three Cairo pitchers.

Bearcats junior Clayton Messer allowed two runs (1 earned) on four hits in two innings with three strikeouts. Junior Reed Taylor struck out four over 2.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits with four walks. Sophomore Gus Gipson closed out the final 2.2 innings, surrendering two runs (1 earned) on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Fayette also pitched by committee. Coach Oeth was forced to manage his pitch counts while eyeing the games ahead as the Falcons face a four-game week, one of which is against a conference opponent and another is against a district team.

“Those are risks we have to take with games that are non-conference and not against district opponents,” said Coach Oeth. “We tried to keep guys available for pitching who can help us in games that can put us in conference contention.”

Payton Oeth struck out two of six batters faced while allowing one unearned run on one hit in an efficient 1.2 innings of work. He was pulled after 30 pitches to keep him eligible for the following night’s game against CS8 opponent New Bloomfield. Sophomore Easton Fehling, the third in the rotation, was held to 35 pitches as he surrendered four runs (2 earned) on one hit and two walks. He struck out two of eight batters.

LaValley, who normally starts in center, wore the mask tonight for the first two innings before moving to the outfield and then to the pitching mound. In 1.2 innings, he allowed four runs (3 earned) on two hits with four walks and retired two batters on strikes. Junior Thad Quint pitched the final 2.1 innings, striking out two batters and walking one without allowing a run or a hit.

Fayette took a one-run lead in the bottom of the first. Craig led off with a single, then scored as Cairo walked three straight batters.

Tied 1-1 after the opening frame, Hogg scored on a Cairo error after leading off with a single to put the Falcons back on top by a run. But the Bearcats outscored Fayette 4-2 in the third inning, 2-1 in the fourth, and 2-0 in the fifth to pull ahead 9-5.

Fayette was held scoreless in the fifth and sixth but mounted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh. Down by four, the Falcons loaded the bases with one out. Craig reached on an error. Quint was hit by a pitch. And Oeth singled to provide an opportunity for LaValley (pictured). The cleanup hitter didn’t disappoint, driving in two runs on a fly ball double to center. Oeth was narrowly thrown out at home, notching the second out, to keep the margin at two runs. But the rally would fall short as a flyout signaled the third out and the end of the game.

The Falcons hoped to regroup and focus for Tuesday’s game at CS8 opponent New Bloomfield. The first pitch was scheduled for 5 p.m., after the Advertiser had gone to press. Fayette made the road trip with a 2-0 conference record after defeating Harrisburg and Linn last week.

Fayette senior ace Ethan Bean was scheduled to start on the mound against New Bloomfield, with Oeth slated to relieve.

“I feel like Ethan and Payton are going to get the job done tomorrow,” Coach Oeth said. “We’re going to go back, reset, and be the team I know we are capable of being. This has been a really good start, and I’m excited about where we are.”

Tonight (Wednesday), the Falcons get a chance to complete the sweep of area teams with a game at Glasgow. The Yellowjackets have had a rough start, losing the first four games of the season. Fayette already defeated three other teams in the Advertiser’s coverage area: Higbee, New Franklin, and Harrisburg.

The Falcons conclude the week with a home game against Class 2 District 7 opponent and longtime Lewis & Clark Conference rival Salisbury on Friday night.