West Holmes had the dramatics going with two walk-off wins in as many games, making it five straight victories to put the Knights at 7-5 on the year.
West Holmes 4, Dover 3
The West Holmes baseball team started off the week with a bang, as Cooper Booth hit walk-off single in extra innings to beat the Dover Crimson Tornadoes 4-3 on April 15.
West Holmes trailed 2-0 until the sixth inning when they tied up the game by manufacturing a pair of runs. Graham Martin started off the frame with a double, and Brock Gallion followed with a walk. Hunter Aurand grounded out to third, but both runners were able to advance. Ben Tanner came up to bat and Gallion showed some hustle on the base paths by taking home on a wild pitch to tie things up 2-2.
The Tornadoes had a chance to finish off the Knights in the top of the seventh inning, as they had the bases loaded after three walks, with one intentional. Morgan Smith was able to get out of the jam by inducing a groundout to short. West Holmes was retired in order in the bottom half, and it was time for extra baseball.
In the top of the eighth, Smith started things off with a strikeout, but he quickly got himself in a hole with back-to-back walks. Smith forced a fielder’s choice, but a run came around to make it a 3-2 Tornadoes lead. Smith finished off the inning with a strikeout, and now it was up to the West Holmes offense.
Martin was hit by a pitch, putting a man on with one out. After a line out, Aurand drew a two out walk to put runners at first and second. Tanner drilled a hard ground ball that was mishandled, and Martin came home to tie things up 3-3. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Booth singled to right to win in dramatic fashion.
West Holmes only had four hits in the game, but made the most of them. Martin was 1-for-2 with a double and two runs. He was also hit by a pitch. Warner, Booth and Jefferson Yoder each had singles.
Booth started the day on the hill and pitched two innings, allowing two earned runs, a hit and two walks, while striking out three. Smith pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and one earned run. He had trouble with control with eight walks, but he struck out five.
Picking up the win for West Holmes was Martin, who pitched the final two outs of the game and had a strikeout.
West Holmes 2, New Philadelphia 1
It was another nail biter for the Knights in extra-innings, and this time it was Tanner’s turn, as he hit a game winning single in the bottom of the ninth to beat New Philadelphia 2-1. The win made it the second walk-off in as many days and the fifth straight victory for the Knights.
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning, as Tanner and Sam Refenacht were locked into a classic pitcher’s duel. The first run came in the top of the fifth, when Jackson Norris scored on a wild pitch. Tanner went on to strike out the batter, but the damage had been done.
In the bottom of the sixth, West Holmes tied up the game when Smith executed a suicide squeeze that scored Gallion. Smith reached on the bunt for a single and Yoder later walked to load the bases, but Rufenacht forced a ground out to end the inning tied 1-1.
The game went to the ninth inning, with Martin leading it off with a single to centerfield. Gallion was then hit by a pitch, and Aurand bunted and reached on an error. Tanner was next to bat and lined the walk-off hit to end what was another night of exciting baseball for the Knights.
West Holmes had a combined one hitter on the mound. Tanner pitched five innings allowing no hits, an earned run, five walks and three strikeouts. Manny Camacho pitched the last four innings allowing only a hit and a walk, while striking out six batters.
Smith was the offensive leader for West Holmes, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tanner was 1-for-3 with two walks, and the game winning RBI.
Rufenacht pitched six innings for New Philadelphia, allowing four hits, an earned run and three walks, while striking out seven. Gaven Blake got the loss, pithing two innings, allowing five hits and an unearned run.
Matthew Meiser had the lone hit for New Philadelphia.
