Poly took a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning of their game against Millikan, but the Rams scored three to tie it in the seventh, and another three to win it in the eighth, securing a 6-4 win that throws all four positions in the Moore League back into contention.
“I didn’t see anyone on our team choke,” said Poly coach Toby Hess of losing the lead. “I saw them win. They’re the champs, and they did a great job getting off the mat.”
The tandem of Tyler Maxwell and Chris Castellanos were gold for Poly for six innings, scattering four hits and getting out of trouble twice, to end the fifth and sixth innings. Sophomore James Norman got the start for the Rams, and held his own. Poly took what seemed to be a decisive lead in the bottom of the fourth, after Hayden Hunt drove in Thomas Walker to start things. With two on and just one out, Millikan coach Scott Glasser switched Norman for ace Josh Frye, hoping to end the Rabbit run. But Poly got a timely hit from James Harvey, a double that scored two runs.
In the top of the seventh, though, the Rams answered. With the bases loaded and two outs, James Peale came up to the plate. Peale started at DH for the Rams for one of the first times this year, because Rams coach Scott Glasser was happy with how he looked in practice. He was probably pretty happy with the single he ripped to score Jackson Woodbury and Paul Slater, too, making it 3-2 with two outs and two on, both in scoring position. “That hit lifted the weight off everyone’s shoulders,” said Glasser.
“It felt good,” Peale said. “I tried to aim for the corner, but the gapper was better. I got the pitch that I wanted and drove it out there.”
Adam Annella was down in the count 0-2, and one strike away from the end of the game when he smacked a single that scored Avery Flores. Peale tried to come around to score, but Henry Severson made a great play at the plate to tag him for the third out, preventing a fourth run. Poly looked like they might still walk off in the bottom of the seventh, after Walker got on second due to an error, and Jeff Turley was walked, putting two runners on with one out. But Severson hit into a double play to end the inning.
The Rams wasted no time in the eighth, with Joshua Valdovinos scoring a runner, and Flores bringing home another two. Daniel Cook scored one for Poly in the bottom of the eighth, but it was too little too late for the Rabbits. It was an impressive turnaround for the Rams, who have struggled at the plate for most of the year. In a must-win game, they scored six runs in the final two innings, including five with two outs.
All of a sudden, the league is wide open again—Lakewood and Poly are tied for first at 6-2, Wilson is at 5-2, and Millikan is at 5-3, with two and a half weeks to go. The Rams will face Wilson at Blair this Friday at 6:30 in a crucial game, while Poly will visit Jordan (they visit Wilson next Friday at 3pm).
Quote from James Peale given to our favorite aspiring journalist, Jordan Sanders!