Mustangs rally in 7th to nip Rams in Class B sectional quarterfinal contest

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Tyler Kroening is safe at second as the ball eludes Roy-Hart’s Jared Hy during the Mustangs narrow sectional win over the Rams at Vets Park this evening.

In a down to the wire thriller, top seeded Medina opened defense of its Section VI Class B baseball title by pushing across a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to nip Niagara-Orleans League rival Roy-Hart 3-2 in the quarterfinals this evening at Vets Park.

The Mustangs loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on a walk and two intentional walks as the game winning run then crossed the plate on a dropped third strike (wild pitch).

Roy-Hart had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead by scoring twice in the second inning on a single by Lincoln Morly and an error.

Medina, which had left the bases loaded in the first inning, got on the scoreboard with a run in the third on two walks and a passed ball.

The Mustangs then tied the contest at 2-2 in the fifth frame as Aidan Papaj walked, stole second and third and came home on a single by Preston Woodworth.

Roy-Hart pitcher Gavin Heideman then registered a key strikeout to end the inning. Heideman, who scattered 4 hits and fanned 11 in six and one-third innings of work on the mound, also notched a key strikeout to end the sixth inning as the Mustangs left a runner stranded at third.

Brody Fry went the distance on the mound for Medina giving up only 2 hits and striking out 8. He had a clutch strikeout to end the top of the seventh as the Rams left a runner stranded at third.

Improving to 19-1, Medina will next host Fredonia in a Class B semifinal on Thursday.

Southwestern ousts Akron
In another Class B quarterfinal, No. 6 seed Southwestern erased a 5-2 deficit by scoring 4 runs in the top of the seventh inning to nip No. 3 Akron 6-5 at Akron.

Akron left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.

Medina’s Aidan Papaj slides under the tag attempt by Roy-Hart’s RJ Townsend.

Roy-Hart’s Evan Poeller hauls in a fly ball in centerfield.