DOVER – The story of the Western Boone walkoff 7-6 baseball win over Crawfordsville is a story of heart.
Heart-breaking for the Athenians.
Heart-warming for the Stars.
The last inning is a story unto itself, as the Athenians scored three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to come back from a two-run deficit and take a 6-5 lead.
The Stars, however, get their second walkoff win of the Sagamore season with two runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh. They defeated North Montgomery 2-1 in the conference opener.
The win gives the Stars a regular-season sweep of the Athenians that has the record-keepers digging. It is the first time in at least 15 years that WeBo has beaten Cville twice in the same regular season. Some questions have been asked, wondering if it is the first time ever.
Whatever the historical element, the current reality is that the two losses takes away two of the three-game lead the Athenians had in the conference race.
They fall to 10-8 overall and 7-2 in the league. The Stars sit only a game behind in the Sagamore race at 6-3, and move to 11-6 overall.
They are tied for second with North Montgomery, and the Chargers play Crawfordsville twice next week.
“Hats off to WeBo,” Athenians coach Brett Motz said. “We had opportunities and we didn’t shut the door on them. They are just such an improved ball club and that’s what makes the league better. There is just more and more competition.”
The Stars had to come from behind twice, as they trailed early when Crawfordsville got a run in the first. They took a 5-3 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth.
The seventh is one of the many things that will be talked about for this game.
In the top of the seventh, hitting in the eight spot, Crawfordsville’s Mason McCarty got his only hit of the game with a blooper that fell just past three gloves. Jude Coursey, hitting leadoff, came up with one out and reached on an error. It was then that Stars fans were starting to remember years and rallies gone by.
After another out, and with the two on, Bryce Dowell turned on the first pitch he saw and one-hopped the left-field fence. He stood on second and the game was even at five.
Sophomore catcher Matt Miller, on a 1-2 count, stroked a single up the middle that scored Dowell. It was 6-5 Athenians.
All the seventh-inning work was off Stars relief pitcher Levi Stewart, as the sophomore was In for freshman starter Quinn Westerfeld.
The Athenians had their own relief pitcher in, as Coursey took over for Dowell in the fifth.
After an out, Stars leadoff hitter Gavin Hawkins singled up the middle. Number two hitter Jackson Grimes picked up his third single if the game, moving Hawkins to third. A wild pitch got Grimes to second.
After a strikeout, the next hitter, Luke Jackson, was intentionally walked to set up a force play at any base with two outs.
Cole Wiley was next up, and the senior earned his stripes by drawing a walk. That forced in the tying run.
The next, and last hitter was Stewart, and the fly ball he hit to left was dropped. The error allowed the winning run to cross.
“I’m proud and pleased with the guys for how they battled back in the seventh,” Motz said. “The bottom line is that we are still looking for that offensive spark to get us on track. We need a couple more guys to produce in key moments. These are all learning opportunities, but sure rather learn from winning than losing. Coursey came in and pitched well in relief, and their freshman (Westerfeld) pitched well.”
Coursey got the loss in relief, after scoring three runs offensively.
The Athenians also had starting third baseman Wyatt Motz ejected after a home plate collision in the fifth. With the JV playing elsewhere, there were few on the Crawfordsville bench, and that added to the issues for the visitors down the stretch.
“I’m so unbelievably proud of our guys,” Stars coach Michael Nance said. “I have the utmost respect for Coach Motz and Crawfordsville. They have been a dominant program for a long time, so getting these two wins is great. We pitched well, we defended well, we got timely hits and timely first at-bats. The strength of this team is the team itself. They pick each other up in every situation. Westerfeld was built for this moment and this has a been a huge week for building confidence.”
The Stars first at-bats were the three runs on four singles in the first inning against Dowell, who started. Dowell also had four RBI at the plate.
Both teams have lots of game in front of them, and the Sagamore race has re-heated.
The Stars have Bethesda Christian on May 2 and Hamilton Heights on May 3. They take on Frankfort in conference action next week.
The Athenians travel to North Putnam on May 3 and host West Lafayette on May 4. The conference/county matchup with the Chargers is Tuesday at North and Wednesday at home.
