GREENFIELD — A true walk-off was displayed at Veteran’s Memorial Field Wednesday night, as David Carey helped Greenfield High School top Frontier, 4-3, in their extra-inning Hampshire League West Division game.
Carey drew the game-winning walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to force Cam Baird across the plate to end the Red Hawk’s perfect division record (11-2 overall, 5-1 West).
“I was hyped, just as much as anyone else. I just helped get it started.” said Baird.
Baird earned the win in relief for the Green Wave. The pitcher helped himself seal the victory as he got on base following a Bryan Baumann error above second base. The pressure built for the Red Hawks, as Kyle Devlin followed with a walk off Frontier pitcher Gabe Gochinski to put Baird in scoring position. After a pitching change, Connor Watikus walked the next two batters — including Carey — to give the Red Hawks their first non-forfeit loss this season.
The Green Wave (9-5 overall, 3-3 HLS) began the night off strong, as Owen Phelps roped a double down the line to start the game. A Cam Baird single scored Phelps to give the Wave the first lead of the night, but it wasn’t long-lived. Frontier’s Kiernan Freeman tripled in the third inning to score Watikus to tie the game.
The Red Hawks continued their scoring in the third, as Freeman crossed the plate after a single from Matt Hildreith to take a 2-1 lead. Tempers flared later in the third, as a collision at the plate sparked heat between Jacob Bryant and Devlin.
“When (Bryant) slid into home, he came with a right cross for my head, and I didn’t like it, so I told him what was up.” said Devlin.
The Green Wave bit back at the Red Hawks in the bottom of the same inning. Hunter Campbell answered right back to Freeman with a triple of his own to start the bottom half of the third for Greenfield. After an errant throw to first by starting pitcher Xavier Santiago, the game was tied.
The game seemed full of errors from both sides, as only two of the seven runs were earned. The miscues continued in the fourth inning, as two passed balls and a stolen base would score Hildrith and give Frontier its final lead of the night and bring the score to 3-2, but once again Greenfield came roaring back.
Jared Hart began the bottom of the sixth with a perfect bunt down the third base line to get on first. On the next pitch, Devlin forced a difficult throw from DeForest to push Freeman around the bag. To try and double up the play, an errant throw was made to an uncovered third base to send Hart across the plate, tying the ball game and forcing the extra innings.
Phelps pitched seven innings in the no-decision with five strikeouts and three walks.
Gochinski pitched well in relief of Santiago, taking a no-decision. In four innings, Gochinski struck out one and walked two.
Greenfield 4, Frontier 3
Frontier ………………… 002 001 00 — 3 7 4
Greenfield ……………. 101 001 01 — 4 7 1
Hits: (F) Waitkus, Freeman, Bryant, Hildreth 2, Barnes 2. (G) Phelps, Campbell 2, C. Baird 2, Hart, Sak.
2B: (G) Phelps.
3B: (F) Freeman. (G) Campbell.
RBI: (F) Freeman, Blight. (G) Carey, C. Baird 2.
WP: C. Baird (1ip, 1k, 1bb), Phelps (7ip, 5k, 3bb).
LP: Waitkus (⅓ip, 1k, 0bb), Santiago (2⅓ip, 2k, 2bb), Gochinski (4ip, 1k, 2bb).