Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Garrison pitcher Bennett Kamp prepares to release a pitch during Game 1 of Thursday evening’s doubleheader in Surrey. The Titans captured 7-6 and 5-0 wins in the doubleheader.

SURREY — The Garrison Titans supplied some clutch offense in the top of the seventh inning, so Bennett Kamp needed to finish the job on the mound.

Kamp closed out the Titans’ 7-6 win over the Surrey Blue Sox after tossing a scoreless seventh in the first game of Thursday evening’s doubleheader in Surrey. The Titans seized a 5-0 victory in the nightcap.

“I was just thinking, ‘Throw it and let your teammates make a play,'” Kamp said. “They did.”

Surrey scored runs in the first three innings of Game 1, but nothing proved more crucial than Garrison’s four runs in the top of the seventh. The Titans trailed 6-3 before a bases-loaded walk ignited a two-out rally.

A two-run single and a balk put Garrison ahead for good.

“It was huge,” Garrison head coach Luke Gehring said. “We started off the game a little cold. Kids came out, they weren’t exactly ready to play. It took them a couple innings to wake up.”

In order to mount the comeback, the Titans needed to buckle down. Jaxon Feller and Dalton Anderson launched home runs for the Blue Sox.

“Rather than putting their heads down and giving up, they fought hard,” Gehring said. That’s what championship teams do. They keep fighting.”

After enduring Surrey’s blows during an exceptionally windy game, the visitors displayed their mettle when it mattered most. A split second after Kamp recorded the final out, the Titans scurried to celebrate at home plate.

“It felt so good,” Kamp said. “Especially to beat these guys. They’re always a fun opponent to play. Tough to beat.”

As the first game concluded, Gehring walked away impressed with the young pitcher’s fortitude.

“That was a huge performance out of him,” Gehring said. “He’s only a sophomore, so it’s good to see such maturity at such a young age. It was awesome.”

Aggressive plays on the base paths helped the Titans score in the second contest’s first frame. Garrison doubled the 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

Backed by a strong defense, Titans starter Gunner Jacobs found a groove on the hill. In the bottom of the fourth, Garrison third baseman Clay Bendickson racked up three putouts from the hot corner.

An insurance run in the top of the fifth created even more distance. Jacobs completed the complete game shutout in the inning’s bottom half.

“These guys are a very positive group,” Gehring said. “It’s tough to get these guys down. They have a lot of fun playing baseball. This is definitely their sport of choice. They just love coming out to the ballpark and having fun.”

Surrey head coach Jesse Roberts said the Blue Sox are focused on getting better every day.

“We’re getting there,” Roberts said. “It’s going to take a little bit, but I think we’re getting toward that end-of-the-year goal.”

Both teams will play at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. Surrey will host Crosby, while Garrison will travel to Hazen.

“Right now, we’re playing our best ball,” Kamp said. “If we just keep playing like we have been right now, we should be good.”

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.