Mason Fisher
MILTON, Ind. – With opening round wins on Saturday, Northeastern and Centerville advanced to the championship of the Wayne County Baseball Tournament.
Northeastern defeated host Lincoln 6-0 in the first game, while Centerville erased a four run deficit to post a 9-8 victory in the second contest.
“We wanted to put as much pressure on them as we could,” Northeastern Head Coach Steve Bray said. “We tried to do the little things right and just take everything an inning at a time.”
Mason Fisher led the Knights (11-6) with three hits. Dylan Baker and Tanner Wilson both added two hits. Austin Kenworthy knocked in two runs.
“We worked the pitcher very well,” Bray said. “That was the big advantage.”
Bailey Stewart picked up the win with six innings of work on the mound with five strikeouts.
For the Golden Eagles (8-8), Brandon Stevens hit a double with Kyler Baker and Blaine Cowan adding singles.
Walk Off Win
Devin Christian
After falling behind 8-4 late in the second game, Devin Christian walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to send Centerville into the finale.
“It was a must win for our season,” Centerville Head Coach Tracey Crull said. “I was worried. Three times, we left the bases loaded.”
There wouldn’t be a fourth time without scoring. With two walks prior to his at bat in the seventh, Christian wasn’t going to swing until he took a strike.
“I had a lot of confidence,” Christian said. “It was nice. There was one that I had to pull back on and wanted to hit.”
The scenario was set up by a four-run Centerville rally in the bottom of the sixth.
The Tigers had taken an 8-4 lead in the top of the frame with two unearned runs and two RBI singles by Dylan Woolard and Mason Hicks.
Centerville (8-9) tied the contest with a fielder’s choice RBI by Peyton Hobson, a run-scoring single by Matt Stamper and a two-run hit by Nolan Witte.
Stamper earned the win on the mound for the Bulldogs as he worked a scoreless seventh in relief of Christian and Justyn North.
Woolard was tagged with the loss as he pitched in the seventh for Hagerstown.
Owen Golliher had a game-high three hits to lead the Tigers (13-4).