It took eight innings before Tuesday’s match up between Fort Dale and Macon-East ended.

When it was over, Fort Dale walked away with a 17-16 win and a sense of disbelief.

“It was probably the most interesting game I have ever been a part of,” said FDA coach Josh Beverly.

The game was a back and forth battle, Beverly said.

“It was like a boxing match,” Beverly said. “We’d throw a few punches and then they would. We we’re just able to outlast them.”

As the score suggests, neither team had a good day on the mound.

“We were throwing everyone we had and they threw everyone they had,” Beverley said.

Todd Burkett started for Fort Dale, giving up six runs in one inning. Skylar McKeown came in after Burkett, giving up eight runs in the three innings he stayed in the game.

Hunter Armstrong grabbed the win, giving up only two runs after he replaced McKeown.

“Armstrong did the best job he has ever done,” Beverley said. “We got a lot of confidence in him right now.”

At the plate, Dustin Till stood out batting 3-for-4 with eight RBIs and a three-run homer. Connally Walters earned 3 RBIs of his own, going 3-for-5. Skylar McKeown went 1-for-3, blasting a two-run triple.

The end of the game was anti-climatic. After Macon-East walked the bases loaded, they then walked Matthew Burkett to send the final base runner strolling to home plate.

Beverly is proud that his boys stuck it out to the end.

“The old Fort Dale would have went and hid somewhere after they got up 15-11 on us,” Beverly said.

Fort Dale plays Lee-Scott today at 3:30 p.m. in Auburn.