Winning a game in the last at bat in the bottom of the 7th inning is an exciting part of high school baseball. I can't think of too many in my years at Lutheran High School. On April 12, 2014 we had two walk-off wins against Perry Meridian, double the excitement!
The 2014 season was a good one as we ended up with a record of 20 wins and 8 losses. We won our Sectional but lost to Jac-Cen-Del in the Regional. Still a good season. Our doubleheader against Perry Meridian included our 2nd and 3rd games of the season. I always liked to play a big school early in the season to give our team a baseline of our potential. Perry Meridian liked to play us and because of their proximity, it was a nice school to schedule. Plus, I believe it was a competitive series.
In game one of the day, we had Seth Hougesen on the mound. Seth was beginning his junior season and had high expectations for the season. A lefty, Seth had good velocity and was an effective pitcher.
Our line-up and batting order for Game 1 follow:
Addison Robertson. CF JR
Jake Reid RF SO
Seth Hougesen P JR
Austin Klase C JR
Eli Goff 1B SR
Austin Mays LF JR
Cody Moncel SS JR
Braiden Moran 3B SR
Ryan Pritt 2B SR
Perry Meridian was coached by Jon Carpenter. I had known Coach Carpenter for a long time as he was the coach at Southport when I was coaching at Manual. His teams were always competitive as he was one of the more competitive guys I coached against.
In this first game, PM had a starting pitcher named Collin Timmons. I cannot provide any context for him but I believe he was righthanded. The best player on their roster was a player named Mitchell Garrity. He played CF this day. Pretty sure he ended up at Dayton after going to Purdue.
In the first inning, Seth went to work and retired the Falcons in order, striking out two batters including Garrity. In our half of the inning, Addison led off with a single stole 2nd and got to 3rd base with a wild pitch, but we also had two strike outs and a pop out to strand Addison.
The Falcon's clean-up hitter, Timmons, led off the top of the 2nd with a single. They bunted to get him to second base. He moved to 3rd base on a wild pitch. Seth then struck out the next hitter for the 2nd out. I do not remember the details but, Seth made an error and the runner scored for PM to take a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 2nd. We got a runner on with a walk but trailed 1-0 after two innings.
Neither team did anything in the third inning. Timmons led off the 4th and reached second base on an error in the outfield. With two outs, Timmons scored their second run when a batter singled. Going into the bottom of the 4th, we were down 2-0. Seth led off with a single. Austin Klase walked and Eli walked to load the bases. Timmons then had a wild pitch to score Seth. Cody then walked to again load the bases but we could not push another run across. Perry Meridian led 2-1 after 4 innings.
In the top of the 5th, Seth walked two batters and an error allowed a 3rd run for the Falcons. In the bottom half with two outs, Seth was hit by a pitch and got to third on two wild pitches. Klase walked on four pitches and then Eli singled to drive in Seth to make the score 3-2.
In the top of the 6th Perry Meridian added to their lead with a lead-off single, a stolen base and an error as Seth struck out the side to finish the inning. We went down in order in the 6th. So, we were down 4-2 going into the 7th inning.
Seth finished strong by again striking out the side, 6 batters in a row to end the game. Perry Meridian put in a new pitcher to start the bottom of the 7th. Addison led off with a 1B and went to 2nd on a balk. Jake singled and then Seth helped his cause by hitting a double to score Addison and Jake to tie the score at 4-4.
Austin Klase then struck out and Eli came to bat. On a 1-0 count and 1 out, Eli singled in Seth to give the Saints a walk-off win!
Seth pitched very well. A complete game, 7 innings, 12 strike outs, 3 hits and no earned runs. We hurt our cause by having 6 errors. On offense, Seth scored 3 runs from 2 hits, including the big double, and a HBP. Eli had two hits and 2 RBI and the game winner! An exciting way to begin the day and a lot more to come!
In game two we started the same line up except Eli and Seth switched positions, Eli pitching and Seth at first base. Perry Meridian's pitcher was Brumett.
Perry Meridian started off quickly with two runs in the top of the first. Another error helped their cause. We also started fast as Addison doubled to lead off, Jake singled and the Austin Klase singled in Addison with one out. Eli drove in the 2nd run on a Fielder's Choice. 2-2 after one inning.
Both pitchers settled in and after 4 innings the score was still 2-2. In the bottom half of the 5th, we took a 3-2 lead. Ryan Pritt lead off with a walk and went to 2nd on a wild pitch. Addison then bunted Ryan to 3rd. Jake then drove in Ryan with a Fielder's Choice. So, we led 3-2 and Eli again kept the Falcons in check in the 6th inning. We did not score in the 6th so we lead 3-2 going to the top of the 7th.
The Falcons got a lead off single to begin the top of the 7th. We got an out and then their #2 hitter singled putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Eli got a ground ball to Ryan at 2B but we could not turn the double play, just the force at 2nd. Two outs and runners on 1st and 3rd. With two outs, their clean up hitter, Timmons, singled to drive in a run and then we made an error in the outfield, and an error on the throw to the infield. The runner on first came into score to give Perry Meridian a 4-3 lead. Eli got the third out with no further damage but we had given up the lead going into the bottom of the seventh.
Addison led off with a single on the 8th pitch of the at bat and then stole 2nd base. With one out Seth singled and Austin Klase got to 1B on a Fielder's Choice and loaded the bases. Eli then singled to drive in Addison to tie the score at 4-4. Seth was then out at home on another Fielder's Choice for the second out.
With a tie score and two outs, Cody Moncel was the hitter. Cody was a junior and was probably 5'9" and 150 pounds, not exactly an imposing figure at the plate. With the game on the line and a 2-1 count Cody drove the next pitch over the fence in left-centerfield for a walk-off grand slam! This home run is one that I can envision. I can still see the ball going over the fence and equally I can still see the reaction of the Perry Meridian coaches! I think they were in shock that they could lose two games on walk-offs on one day and the second one on a grand slam.
Interestingly, this home run was the only one in Cody's career at Lutheran High School. He was a really good player for us for 3 years, and this moment is one that will live on for those of us that were there!
A great day to be a Saint!
5’8” on a good day!