MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - “Special… This team was special.”
The special season for Silverdale Baptist ended in heartbreaking fashion after Northpoint Christian walked it off in extras to win 8-7. Silverdale had battled back after giving up a five run inning and trailing by three but the magic finally ran out.
An emotional head coach Lance Rorex couldn’t get much out after the loss, but he knew his team was one that will stand out for ages.
“This team has kind of redirected where the program was going. They worked so hard.” Said Rorex.
Things started great for Silverdale. James Smith started the game for Northpoint Christian and looked shaky starting off as he struggled with control. Few strikes were thrown to the first two batters as they reached via walk and hit by pitch. Smith finally started to settle down and find the zone vs three hole hitter Sebastian Hanks, but Hanks battled all at bat to reach a 3-2 count with runners on first and second. The payoff pitch was a fastball right up the middle and Hanks took advantage sending it deep over the left field fence and igniting the Silverdale crowd.
After Maddox Jones took the mound for Silverdale and started much stronger than his competition, but the Northpoint batters put together a few solid at bats leading to hits to settle him down and strike back with a run of their own, 3-1 after the first.
In the second, Silverdale was strong again and had runners at second and third with two outs and Hanks up to bat once again. The count reached 3–2 another time, but this time Smith prevailed as he struck out Hanks swinging on a high fastball.
Jones returned to the mound in the second and made easy work of the batters, only facing four in the inning.
Silverdale played small ball on the third as they moved a few base hits into scoring position with steals and bunts. They scored one but left another on third to take a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom half, after a walk, a double, and a walk, Northpoint had the bases loaded with no outs.
The runners advanced and one scored on a groundout to first and Jones struck out the next batter to give them two outs. After another long at bat, the Northpoint batter hit a rocket up the middle that looked to be headed in the second base gap to score both runners, instead, Silverdale second baseman Owen Phillips had other plans and had a web gem diving stop and gunned out the runner at first to save the inning and lead, 4-2 Silverdale.
In the fourth, Northpoint made a pitching change to K Farr and he looked solid facing the minimum thanks to help from his catcher who threw out the only base runner allowed as he tried stealing second.
Maddox Jones made decent work to start the fourth allowing one base runner who advanced to third with two outs. Jones made a huge mistake though as he lackadaisically pursued a slow roller right back to him. The pitcher seemed to forget to look the ball in and let it go right under his glove scoring the runner and allowing the batter to reach. That mistake flustered Jones and he proceeded to load the bases and then score the tying run on a hit by pitch. Rorex then made a pitching change to Sebastian Hanks as they still had two outs and the bases loaded. In a tough spot, Hanks gave up two hits and scored as many as he had drove in earlier in the game giving Northpoint a 7-4 lead after four.
In the fifth, Farr struggled and loaded the bases with one out. He then proceeded to hit and walk the next two batters, but recovered by getting two outs and leaving three stranded, 7-6 Northpoint.
In the bottom half, Hanks thrived coming into a much better position and went three up three down, striking out two.
Silverdale tried to make up ground again and got runners on first and second with two outs. Cameron Bowen hit a single through the gap in the infield, but the runners got greedy and Sebastian Hanks was thrown out at the plate on a great throw from left field.
After that, the rain began to downpour and the game was delayed for nearly an hour before starting back up in the bottom of the 6th with Northpoint leading 7-6.
With the meat of their lineup up to start, Northpoint started strong in the inning getting two on with one out, but Hanks forced a fly out and struck out another to end the inning.
Northpoint then brought in lefty Connor McKnatt to pitch the final inning. Silverdale had to score to extend the game and played like it. After McKnatt hit the first batter with his first pitch. they tried to move the runner via bunt but failed and instead struck out and left him on first with one out. After a wild pitch moved the runner to second, Bryson Cline doubled to the right field gap to score him and tie the game at 7. McKnatt got a ground out and fly out to come out without any further damage.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hanks was cool under pressure and faced the minimum striking out the last batter to send it to extras. Hanks was incredible on the mound and at the plate all game long.
“He is a competitor. We expect that from him. He’s done it his entire career and we’d have been surprised if he didn’t today.” Said the coach.
To start the extra innings Silverdale was able to get one on and moved him to second but couldn’t get a hit and left him stranded.
In the bottom half the meat of the lineup was due once again for Northpoint. Smith reached first on
a line drive to the outfield and Brown moved him to third with a single down the line. Silverdale then intentionally walked McKnatt and loaded the bases with one out and their season on the line.
Designated hitter Spencer Haley was up and delivered with a walkoff single to right field to win it.
“Our guys fight and battle. I’m proud of them. It’s tough to see it come to an end but we talk all the time about what our identity really is. It’s not in this game. It’s in Christ. That makes even a tough situation like this okay. We are going to wake up tomorrow and still thank the great God.” Said Rorex.
SILVERDALE 301 020 00 -- 7 9 0
NORTHPOINT 101 500 01 -- 8 12 1
Hanks, Jones (4), and Reagan; Smith, McKnatt (4) , Farr (6) and Giamportone.
WP: Farr
LP: Reagan