Extra-inning dramatics
Sabre Dogs defeat Big Sticks on walk-off wild pitch
One Badlands Big Sticks mistake resulted in a heartbreaking defeat. While the Big Sticks groaned as a wild pitch skipped to the backstop in the bottom of the tenth inning of Friday evening’s game at Corbett Field, the Souris Valley Sabre Dogs cheered with delight.
Cullen Hannigan hustled home on the errant pitch for the go-ahead run. The Sabre Dogs (10-9) claimed a 5-4 win over the Big Sticks (11-9) in the first game of a four-game series.
Neither team scratched in the first two innings. Souris Valley’s Josh Solomon opened the scoring with a towering home run to left-center field in the third inning.
Solomon’s two-run shot gave the Sabre Dogs a temporary boost, but the Big Sticks responded promptly. In the top of the fourth inning, power-hitting lefty Conner VanCleave unloaded on a pitch and blasted the ball to right field.
After VanCleave smacked his solo shot, Gaylan Young joined the back-to-back club. Young’s deep drive tied the score at 2-2.
The defenses held serve for the next few innings. No runs came across until the top of the seventh.
Wyatt Setian’s home run carried well over the fence. The two-run homer gave the Big Sticks a small cushion at a critical juncture.
Trailing 4-2, Souris Valley got one run back in the bottom of the frame. Justin Cooper, already swinging a hot bat, drove a two-out single through the left side of the infield.
The Big Sticks failed to score in the top half of the eighth inning. In the bottom of that frame, Solomon reached base and took off stealing with two outs.
As he slid headfirst into third base, the ball skipped into the outfield. Solomon gathered himself and arrived at home plate safely.
A scoreless ninth forced extra innings. Badlands threatened to score, but the visitors’ efforts proved fruitless.
The Big Sticks loaded the bases with just one out. Souris Valley reliever Tanner Riley pitched to contact and forced a fielder’s choice and a lineout.
As the squads entered the bottom of the tenth, the scoreboard offered a further glimpse into the contest’s evenly-matched nature. The Big Sticks had tallied six hits, while the Sabre Dogs had recorded seven.
With one out and Hannigan on third base, Badlands intentionally walked Solomon to get to Bo McClintock.
McClintock didn’t need to wait long for his plate appearance to finish. The first pitch he saw bounced on the Corbett turf.
After Hannigan sprinted home, his teammates mobbed him in celebration. The Sabre Dogs lifted their arms, jumped in unison and made their way to third base.
Badlands now holds a slim half-game lead in the Lewis Division standings. The teams will continue the series at 7:05 p.m. this evening.
Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.