Valley Sports ReportSAYRE — Sayre scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to complete a rally that wiped out a 12-run deficit in a wild, 17-16, walk-off win over Northeast Bradford here Monday afternoon in NTL Small School Division baseball action at Riverfront Park.
The win snaps a 12-game losing skein and avenges a 5-1 loss at NEB earlier this season.
"Tonight was a sheer surprise in seeing these young men struggle early on through the game, only to come together and show resilience in the end of the contest," said Sayre coach Todd Green.
"We were slow out of the gate for sure, but got our bats warmed up finally with some solid contacts and some lucky drop-in-the-back pocket shots tonight.
"Northeast was a great hitting team against our pitchers tonight, they found the gaps early and capitalized," noted Green. "Their pitching staff kept us at bay early tonight and they played solid defense behind their pitchers.
"I'm proud of these young men and hoping we can carry momentum forward to the game against Troy," Green added. They will be a tough team to beat, I just hope the team that finished the night for us is the team that shows up tomorrow and we can have ourselves a good opportunity to sneak one out."
NEB led 12-0 after two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but the Redskins began their rally in the home half of the fourth.
Sophomore Riley McGaughey led off the inning with a double, and later scored on an RBI single by sophomore Brayden Northrup to make it 12-1. An RBI single by junior Jacob Vaupotic, and a two-run single by junior Shaine Strickland closed the gap to 12-4 after four innings.
The Panthers added two more runs, and led 14-4 after 4 1/2 innings, but Sayre wiped out the lead with a 10-run inning in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Senior Karter Green sparked the rally with a triple, and scored moments later on an RBI single by McGaughey.
With one out, Northrup and Vaupotic stroked RBI singled to close the gap to 14-7, and Strickland followed with a two-RBI single to make it 14-9.
With two outs, Karter Green lined an RBI single up the middle to trim the deficit to 14-10. After an intentional walk to McGaughey loaded the bases, freshman Blake Zingeser flared a two-run single to centerfield to close the gap to 14-12.
After Lynn Clark was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases, senior Logan Zingeser tied the game with a line drive two-RBI single to right field to make it 14-14.
NEB answered with two runs in the top of the sixth inning, and Panther reliever Kohen Hugo struck out the Redskins in order in the home half of the inning.
After striking out the first two batters in the inning, Sayre reliever Karter Green pitched around a triple and a walk to keep the deficit at 16-14.
McGaughey was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Blake Zingeser followed with a line-drive single to center field.
A groundout off the bat of senior Kyshon Kole moved the runners to second and third, but Hugo registered a strike out for the second out.
Northrup then legged out an RBI infield single that was thrown away, allowing the runners to move up to second and third.
Vaupotic hit an 0-1 pitch on the ground, and a throwing error allowed both runners to score to give the Redskins the walk-off win.
Strickland had four hits, scored one run, and drove in four runs to pace Sayre's 17-hit attack, while Northrup stroked three singles, scored three runs, and drove in three runs, and Blake Zingeser singled twice, scored three runs, and knocked in two runs.
McGaughey doubled and singled, scored four runs, and drove in one run in the win, while Logan Zingeser singled twice, scored two runs, and knocked in two runs, Karter Green tripled and singled, scored two runs, and drove in one run, Vaupotic singled twice, scored one runs and had two RBI, and Clark crossed the plate once.
Karter Green earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits, with four strikeouts and two walks in two innings. Sophomore Tucker Green allowed one run and struck out one in one hitless inning of relief.
Sayre, now 2-13, hosts Sayre Tuesday.
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IN PHOTO: Sayre's Shaine Strickland.
