Spartans win Baseball Classic, 9-8, in Nine Innings
Williamsville North scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Clarence, 9-8, in an amazing finish, Wednesday night from Dunn Tire Park. The Red Devils scored three runs in the top of the ninth, but Max Zimmerman's RBI-single capped a four-run rally in the bottom half to give the Spartans the Rich Cup-clinching victory.
Trailing 8-5 and down to their final three outs, Williamsville North got a lead-off single from Taylor Gahagen before three consecutive walks from Alex Barth, Pat Dwyer and Jarad Fabian forced in a run. Barth raced home on Austin Benshadle's fielder's choice and Dwyer tied the game on Alex Calderon's sac fly.
That brought up Zimmerman, who lined a pitch off the glove of David Janiszeski. The Red Devil shortstop tried to recover but threw low onto first. When the ball skipped away from Rick Onorato, Benshadle raced home for the game-winning run.
Zimmerman finished the game 2-3 with three walks and the all-important game-winning RBI.
Clarence thought that had a comeback victory of their own. The Red Devils erased a 5-1 deficit with a four-run rally in the sixth inning. Chris Gentzke's two-run, two-out triple capped the comeback that forced the extra-innings. Gentzke also had an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in Clarence's three-run ninth inning. He finished the game 3-5.
Clarence also came inches away from winning the game in the eighth inning. Matt Francis tried to score on another hit by Gentzke but a great throw from Benshadle in centerfield cut the run down at the plate.
Williamsville North took the early lead with a four-run second inning. Benshadle's two-run single capped the two-out rally. Each team scored a single run in the fourth inning.