by Kent, OH – Junior Chase King delivered a pinch-hit walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh inning, capping off a comeback from a four-run deficit to defeat Grand Valley, 7-6 at Schoonover Stadium.
Grand Valley jumped on top, 1-0, when junior shortstop Gordon Seger led off with a double to left field, and scored on a groundout by senior starting pitcher Logan Newell.
Kenston countered with a triple to left center field by junior outfielder/pitcher Tyler Mintz. He would score on a ground ball by freshman starting pitcher Ryan Miller.
In the fourth inning, Derek Jackson singled to left field, and stole home on a successful double-steal to give the Mustangs the lead. The Bombers would answer back in the fifth when junior outfielder JD Miller led off with a single, and scored on a single by Ryan Miller.
Grand Valley broke through in the sixth off relief pitcher Tyler Mintz, taking the lead, 3-2, on a bases-loaded walk by Daniel Gearhart. They would add to that when Zach Findley reached base after getting hit by a pitch.
Gordon Seger would add a run on a fielders choice groundout, and Gearhart would score on a wild pitch to make the score 6-2. But Tyler Mintz would dig deep and limit even further damage by getting out of the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and fly ball out.
JD Miller hit a two-out single to center field to cut the Kenston deficit in half, 6-4, in the bottom of the sixth inning.
“I was just looking for a pitch to hit. He (Newell) threw a lot of first-pitch strikes so I tried to hit it hard somewhere and get on base and help my team.” said Miller.
The Bombers would make their move in the bottom of the 7th when Ryan Miller reached base on a single off the pitcher’s foot. A single and a walk later, the bases were loaded.
Gordon Seger came on in relief for Logan Newell, looking to slam the door shut and give the Mustangs the win.
However, junior outfielder Ty Yurkovich had other ideas.
He would deliver a two-run single to left field to tie the game.
“We never give up, it’s what we do. We always try to stay in the game and just keep fighting no matter what the score is.” said Yurkovich.
Senior Blaise Gorski would reach on a bang-bang play at first base to load the bases, setting the stage for Chase King, who would deliver a royal finish, driving a single down the right field line, capping off Kenston’s comeback.
“Our team fought back, it wasn’t all me. I give all the credit to the my teammates in front of me. It was my first at bat, so I decided to go up swinging, you know?” said King.
Kenston improves to 10-10, and travels to Brush on Monday to continue WRC play.
In a losing effort, Logan Newell threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits, walking three batters, and striking out eight batters.
“That was a really good team win. Our whole team had some clutch hits. That last inning was really fun to participate in.” said Kenston head coach Bob Ford. “We could have grounded into a double-play, done other things, but they had great at-bats. Chase King, who’s been sick and throwing up, comes in and rips a single down the line.
How about that? What a way to end the game. Ty Yurkovich and Blaise Gorski have also been hitting well. They had good at bats today. It was a good team win.” he added.
“Logan (Newell) threw well today, but I may have left him in there a batter or two too long. We didn’t field our position in the end there and as a result, we blew the lead in the seventh inning. Good teams don’t do that.” said Grand Valley head coach Matthew Brumit.
“The team definitely put the bat on the ball today and strung together a few hits.” said Newell.
Grand Valley drops to 9-5 and travels to Garfield on Wednesday afternoon.
