Down 5-4 to Ellsworth in the 7th inning,Designated Hitter Max Andrews sent a "seeing-eye-single" between 1B and 2B with the bases loaded to rally the John Bapst Crusaders to a comeback walk-off 6-5 win over the 4th place Ellsworth Eagles on Thursday.
With the win, John Bapst moved from 10th to 7th as they head north on Saturday to Caribou for a season-ending double header.
The game had plenty of drama as 2 of Eastern Maine's finest teams went toe-to-toe.
The Eagles scored in the first inning on a single, stolen base, and triple,but stranded runners at 2nd and 3rd. In the bottom half of the first, Ryan Carr reached on a 2 base error. He scored on a Chris Hammond single to tie the game at 1. The Crusaders left the bases loaded in the first after Leadbetter singled and Christie worked a walk.
The Eagles struck again in the 4th inning with a leadoff walk, stolen base and single to go up 2-1. Bapst sent 9 batters to the plate in the bottom half of the 4th and scored 3 runs to go up 4-2. Ellsworth chipped away with another run in the 5th and then 2 more in the 6th to take a 5-4 lead. Hammond was able to dispose of the 4-5-6 hitters in the top of the 7th and then it was time for some heroics. With one out, Matt Storgaard fought off a couple of nice curve balls and then shot a hard single up the middle. Leadbetter then reached on an error by the shortstop. The Eagles pitcher balked and both runners moved over to 2nd and 3rd with one out. Nick Christie worked a walk to load the bases and then Max Andrews hit the first pitch he saw between 1B and 2B to score the tying and winning runs. Needless to say the nice crowd on Senior Day was ecstatic, and the boys are to be commended for never giving up and battling all day long to claw out the upset win.
Chris Hammond was a "warrior" on the mound. He did a great job keeping his composure with men on base and battled is way out of a couple of tough jams. He pitched a complete game giving up 6 hits and striking out 3.
Adam Leadbetter made 2 outstanding plays at first base; one on an infield throw that he stretched to barely keep contact with the bag, and the other was in the top of the 7th on a liner heading towards the foul line that he leapt and caught to get the crowd onto their feet and fire up his teammates.
Ryan Carr was also instrumental at his shortstop position, making some fine plays to help keep the Eagles at bay.
Offensively for Bapst; Carr reached on an error, scored, and walked. Wetherbee walked in a run. Hammond singled and had an rbi. Matt Storgaard singled and reached on a fielder's choice. Adam Leadbetter singled, walked, reached on an error and scored twice (including the game winning run!). Christie walked twice, reached on an error and scored. Max Andrews had the game-winning single, Sean O'Donnell singled, scored, and had an rbi, and Jason McBurnie joined in the fun with a single, walk, and rbi.
Good luck on Saturday boys! Thanks for making Senior Day one we'll definitely remember!