Its back pressed against the wall when Boley & Boley Insulation pushed across two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead with the time limit running down, Hy-Vee Food Store responded last night to claim the 2009 Chillicothe Summer Playground Association 12-and-under baseball division tournament championship with a 4-3 victory.
Josh Faught and Trey McLemore coaxed bases on balls to open the bottom of the third and place the potential tying run in scoring position.
Dylan Clark lined a clean single just over the head of retreating Boley & Boley Insulation third baseman Colton Webb to load the bases with none out.
That prompted a change of pitchers for Boley & Boley with Kyler Sewell taking over from starter Shayler Keller.
Hy-Vee then had a chance to win it when Steven Cooper popped a single to right-center field, driivng home Faught. While outfielders chased it down, McLemore – who had stayed close to second base in case the fly was caught, was held up at third base by his coach there.
For a brief time, it appeared that decision might haunt Hy-Vee. Josh Nunn hit a foul popup caught by Cooper a short distance down the third base linas Hy-Vee moved beyond the heart of its order.
However, the initial pitch to the next batter, Mason Mayers, was wild, going to the temporary backstop about 15 feet behind home plate on the Daryl Danner Memorial Park’s green field. McLemore quickly broke for home plate and slid in safely with the game-winner as the catcher’s hurried throw toward Sewell covering was wide and low, preventing Sewell from even attemping a tag.
Boley & Boley Insulation had gained its second lead – Sewell walked to lead off the game and came around to give the guests a 1-0 edge – when a bases-loaded free pass to DeEll Midgyett forced home Brett Clark in the top of the third.
Clark had walked with one out and advanced on a Sewell single. Walks to Tristen Boley and Keller allowed Clark to score before Midgyett worked winning pitcher D. Clark for the pass that allowed Sewell to touch home plate.
Hy-Vee had answered Boley & Boley Insulation’s first-inning run with two on one swing of the bat.
D. Clark singled with one away and Cooper ripped a drive past the outfielders for an inside-the-park home run.
D. Clark threw all three innings in the victory. He was touched twice for singles by Sewell.
Keller allowed three hits and was responsible for all three runs.
Chillicothe, Mo. —
