Willingham Drives In Winning Run For Boyd-Buchanan

The Boyd-Buchanan baseball team didn't get off to a very good start in Monday's Region 3-A semifinal game with Marion County, but oh, what a fabulous finish for the Buccaneers.

Unlike last week's District 5-A tournament where the Bucs run-ruled three straight opponents while scoring 55 runs, this one was close.

But with the game on the line and pinch runner Sebastian Stewart dancing nervously off second base, senior Brandon Willingham hit a hot smash past the second baseman and Stewart raced home with the winning run as the Bucs came from behind to win a 6-5 thriller.

There were no outs when the winning run scored. With Monday's win and Silverdale's 3-2 win at South Pittsburg, it will be a rematch of the District 5-A championship at Boyd-Buchanan on Wednesday.

Marion County starter Logan Walters had allowed just two innocent singles and a pair walks through the first four innings as his team built a 4-0 lead with one run in the first and three more in the third.  Another solo run in the fifth made it 5-0, but that's when the Buccaneers finally came to life.

Bray Wilson led off with a walk, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Thomas Baker and then to third on an infield hit by Cade Evans.

Colby Morgan then drove in the first run with a single before Seth Rogers drove in two more with an infield hit.  Then with the Buccaneer faithful on the edge of their seats with something to cheer about finally, Willingham tied it up with a two-run homer to right-center.

Boyd-Buchanan had a chance to take the lead in the sixth, but Baker was stranded at third after ripping a one-out double and advancing on a wild pitch.

The Bucs missed a golden opportunity in the sixth, but not in the seventh.

Morgan reached on an infield error to lead off before Rogers lined a single to right.  Willingham attempted to bunt on his first pitch before grounding a 1-1 pitch hard past the Warrior second baseman as Stewart scored the winning run.

"That's a tough one as our season is over," said Marion County coach Scott Barton after his team's season ended at 28-9.

"We were hoping to get a force out at third, but hats off to Boyd-Buchanan because they went the other way with that final hit.  It all comes down to making the routine plays and we didn't do that like we're capable.  You just can't afford to give a team like Boyd-Buchanan extra outs," he concluded.

"We were dragging a little bit as we started off slow.  Today was the first day seniors were out of school and the game started a half-hour later, but it takes a team that can battle back to win big games and we've been doing this all year," said Willingham shortly after the game ended,

"I know that I had homered in my previous at-bat, but coach wanted me to bunt if I could and I was doing everything I could to help us win.  He told me to swing away after the first pitch, but I was just trying to hit the ball to the opposite field to get our runner over.  

"Their guy made a great effort at second, but there was no way they were throwing us out at the plate," Willingham smiled.

Boyd-Buchanan coach Taylor Gilley was just happy that one of his senior leaders came through in the clutch.

"Brandon had two great at-bats there at the end.  He took it the other way just like we wanted.  Logan Walters is a great pitcher, probably one of the best we've faced this year, but I liked the fight I saw from my team.

"We didn't play very well for the first four innings as we didn't take advantage of our opportunities.  It was a little tight out there, but I'm proud of the way we kept battling.  Cade Evans pitched much better than his line score shows, but we didn't do anything to help him.

"And I just hope we get to play another home game here on Wednesday," the first-year-coach said after his team had improved to 23-4.

Evans, Rogers and Willingham all had three hits for Boyd-Buchanan as the Bucs finished with nine for the game.

Jacob Saylors, Hunter McClain and Bryce Massengale all had two hits apiece for the Warriors as they finished the game with seven.

Massengale had a pair of doubles that drove in three runs, including one in the first and two more in the third.  Saylors had the other RBI with a single in the third while McClain's single in the fifth drove in Saylors with Marion's fifth run.

Evans was the starter for the Bucs and went five innings, allowing five runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks.  Rogers was the winner in relief as he allowed one hit in two innings while striking out three and walking two.

Walters was the tough-luck loser as he went the distance, allowing all six runs on nine hits.  He also had eight strikeouts and walked three.

It took 10 innings,  but Silverdale's Tyler Mossburg slugged a solo home run with two outs and that was the difference as the Seahawks slipped past South Pittsburg by a 3-2 final.

Silverdale was limited to just four hits as South Pittsburg starter Lane Morrison struck out 11 in seven innings.  Michael Hawkins pitched the first seven innings for Silverdale, but Dylan Bryant was the winner after pitching three scoreless innings at the end.

"I'm proud of how we fought tonight, but it seems like we always have close games like this over here," said Silverdale coach Jonathan Adcock.

"We had lots of people on base, but we just couldn't get them home.  South Pittsburg had the bases loaded twice, the last time in the eighth inning, but they weren't able to score either.  It was quite a game and I'm just thankful that we get to play at least two more," Adcock added.

MARION CO. 103 010 0 -- 5 7 2

BOYD-BUCHANAN  000 050 1 -- 6 9 2

Walters and Barton; Evans, Rogers (6) and Hodge.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)