With the stakes high and both teams looking to advance to the Section V Division II Semifinals, the game started off with a homerun from Avoca, causing the score to be one to zero. I knew that we couldn’t stop there. I called time to go out and talk to my pitcher before he shut down. He was angry at me because the pitch I told him to throw back fired and it was the first home run he has ever given up. But hey, it’s baseball right?

After that, the game was a pitcher’s duel until the third inning. Adam got on base, Kevin hit a shot off the fence in left field, and Adam came around to score. This tied the game at one and then the hitting started for Belfast. We scored three runs in the bottom half of the third. Then, in the top of the seventh inning, Avoca’s leadoff hit the ball to center for a double. The next batter hit a double and scored, so the score was then three to two, still in favor of Belfast. Next, the third batter hit the ball and the runner on second came around to score and tie it back up. Adam then shut the next three batters down and we went into the bottom of the seventh hoping for a walk-off victory. Zach Bradshaw lead off and ripped one past the third baseman. The ball got past the left fielder, so Zach advanced to second base.

I was next up to bat. With a runner in scoring position, many thoughts were going through my head. I looked out to left-center field and thought, “there’s a hole in the outfield, if I hit it there we win.” Then I said to myself, “No, don’t try to be the hero.” Before the pitch, Zach, standing on second base, was thinking “Johnny’s gonna win the game.” The pitch came in and I swung. I hit the ball towards third, but I didn’t waste time looking to see where. I put my head down and dug as hard as I could to get to first base which seemed as if it was a mile away. My foot hit the bag and I saw the ball go over the first baseman’s head. He happened to be 6’9”. I looked back to see Zach coming home to score. I took off towards home plate where everyone was jumping around and hugging. As I ran towards the mob, I threw my helmet off like they do in the pros and hugged everyone. As all this was happening, I thought of one person, my Uncle Ryan, who passed away a little over a month ago. I pointed the sky and said thank you, because I know with all my heart I had some help on that hit.

In the semi-finals, we played against Arkport Central School, who was ranked #1 in our division. Arkport jumped out to an early two to zero lead which we were unable to overcome. Our hitting just wasn’t there and that wasn’t the game to not hit. The game ended with a final score of nine to two. This game also ended our season with a final record of twelve wins and six losses. Our head coach Derek Kenyon, said “Great season boys! I know it ended too soon but what a run we had this year. A grand slam, a no-hitter, undefeated in our league, 12 wins, 139 stolen bases, 94 runs scored in Lg. play. I couldn’t be more proud of this team and I can’t wait till next season.”

On behalf of the Varsity Baseball team, we would like to congratulate our senior Matt Borden, for playing on the team for four years and for all of the memories. Also, thanks to Gage Lincoln for being a part of the team this year as his only year. Congratulations on all of your accomplishments, boys!