It took ten innings and four runs for Stonewall to take a 4-3 come-from behind win and the Tri-County Seniors Tournament Championship Friday night in Stonewall.
Daryl Sullivan hit a RBI single to score Tommy Jackson in the bottom of the 10th and gave Stonewall a one point win over Martin. Stonewall had beaten Martin earlier to take the regular season championship.
The game was a defensive battle through out as both teams failed to score in the first three innings. In the top of the fourth Martin pitcher Cliff Mayatt reached on a double to left and scored Martin’s first run when he came home on Tim Richardson’s sacrifice fly. Danny Ivy scored after reaching on a walk to give Martin a 2-0 lead at the end of three and a half innings.
Stonewall threatened in the bottom of the fourth but came up short when Dewayne Chandler was called out after missing second base.
Mayatt added one more for Martin in the 5th after he reached on a walk. Stonewall failed to score in the bottom of the inning. Neither team scored in the sixth and Stonewall had one last chance as they came to bat in the bottom of the seventh.
Catcher Danny Jones walked and center fielder Daryl Sullivan reached on an infield hit that rolled down the third base line stopping just inside fair territory. Henry Chancellor drove home Jones and Sullivan with a double to the left field wall to bring Stonewall to within one.
Martin made a pitching change bringing Michael Lee in to relieve Mayatt. Keith Combest took first after he was hit with a pitch. Steve Helms reached to load the bases after a walk.
Again Martin made a pitching change bringing Mike Rosamond to the mound. William Stewart, pinch running for Chancellor, was forced out at home on a fielders choice. Rosamond then gave up a walk to Tommy Jackson sending Combest home to tie the game at three at the end of seven.
Rosamond and Stonewall pitcher Dewayne Chandler were both aided with good defense that kept both teams from scoring in the first two extra innings.
In the top of the tenth Martin saw two chances fade as Brad Busbea lined a shot to the right field corner for a triple, but slid past the third base bag and could not get back before Jack McHenry tagged him out. Rosamond then singled to right but was tagged out trying to go for two.
In the bottom of the 10th Tommy Jackson reached on a double, and scored on Daryl Sullivan’s RBI single to give Stonewall the win.
Martin also finished the regular season in second place in the Tri-County Senior League.
