OAK HILL- Two wins in three games.
And now, two Kaeson Kisner walk-offs in both of those.
Kisner ripped a single to shortstop in the bottom of the sixth to break a 5-5 tie, Mason Kirby scored, and Central Greenbrier 11U celebrated a trip to the District 4 title game and a qualifying victory for the state tournament with a 6-5 win over Midland Trail on Thursday evening.
The win was a nice bounce back from Wedensday’s 2-0 loss to Princeton.
Things got off to a shaky start as Trail went ahead 2-0 in the top of the first inning, but Central Greenbrier answered with a 3-run bottom half.
Carson Simmons led the inning off with a walk. Jackson Crane then singled on a bunt. Two batters later, Mason Linsenmeyer hit an RBI single and ditto for the very next batter, Ryder Ward. Evan Cleghon then knocked in Linsenmeyer on a hard-hit ball that snuck past the first baseman and CG took a 3-2 lead after one.
Central extended that lead to 5-2 after three innings highlighted by an RBI base hit from Crane in the second frame.
But Midland Trail’s never say die attitude brought them back. They scored two runs in the fourth inning on a 2-run single and then in the top of the sixth inning, stayed alive to tie the contest at five runs apiece.
After what seemed to be an inning killing double play in CG’s final at-bat, Kirby drew a walk, Mason Hedrick singled, and it all set up Kisner’s game winner to walk it off.
Kisner also pitched five innings, scattered five hits, four runs, and struck out seven. Crane got the win after one inning itched. He gave up a run, but all three outs he got were Ks.
On offense, Hedrick was 3-3 with a run scored. Knapp (2-3) and Crane (2-3, run, RBI). Along with Kisner–Linsenmeyer, Ward, and Cleghon all had a hit and an RBI apiece.
The District championship game will be played this Monday night, July 7 at 6:00 PM.
