MARYVILLE – It took 12 innings and nearly four hours, but Maryville came away with a 5-4 walk-off win over Huntingdon here at Scotland Yard Friday night.
Ashton Whiteaker was the hero for the Scots (12-11, 2-1 CCS), driving in
Zach Devries for the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 12
th for Maryville's second walk-off win of the season.
"I just try to stay as calm as I can," Whitaker said when asked how he's able to come through consistently in clutch situations. "I fall back on my preparation, what we've worked on all season, and just trust myself."
"I was looking for something that I could drive up the middle. I knew all we needed was a base hit, so I was just looking for that."
Head coach
Clint Helton explained how his catcher was able to stay calm under pressure and come through for his squad in the clutch.
"He's just very poised," Helton said. "He Stays within himself, he's mature in those situations. He understands how he's been getting pitched and even when he gets into two-strike counts he knows he's still going to give himself a chance."
Maryville trailed heading into the bottom of the ninth, with Huntingdon (14-9, 5-2 CCS) scoring the go-ahead run on a single from Cade Morgan with two outs in the top of the inning to put the Hawks ahead 4-3.
Colin Dunworth worked a key walk with one out in the inning, before moving into scoring position on a groundout for the second out of the frame. With Dunworth on second and two outs,
Christian Carlton, scorched a one-hopper to the right side that ate up Hawks second baseman Jordan Raley, bringing Dunworth around to score the tying run.
Chris Arbuthnot (3-0) picked up the win for Maryville, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out two. The righty has not allowed a run in any of his last three outings, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings during that stretch. The senior has allowed one or fewer earned runs in nine of his 10 appearances this season, recording scoreless performances in six of them.
"We've been using him in a shorter role and a ton out of the bullpen this season," Mauriello said. "Last year he was extended for us a bunch, so we know he is comfortable in that role."
Xavier Resto continued his strong season out of the pen for Maryville, matching his season-high with four innings pitched, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out three batters. The sophomore, who often plays the fireman role for the Scots, did so again tonight. He entered with the bases load and two outs, striking out the first batter he faced to get MC out of the jam.
"It was important for them to extend to save a little bit of our bullpen," Pitching coach
Rocky Mauriello said. "In a game like that, you're rolling with the hot hand and those guys were throwing well so you had to keep throwing them out there."
Whiteaker led the Scots with two RBIs in the contest, going 2-for-6 with a walk and a run scored.
Reece Jordan (3-for-3) and
Daniel Montana (2-for-5) joined the catcher as the only Scots to record multiple knocks in the contest.
Zach Devries and Dunworth recorded extra-base hits for MC, picking up their fourth and seventh two-baggers of the season, respectively. Dunworth is tied with
Max Bowers for the Maryville lead in that category.
Maryville recorded a season-high 10 walks in the contest, led by three apiece from Devries and Dunworth.
The Scots and Hawks are set to face off again Saturday afternoon at Scotland Yard.
Nic Mirabella is scheduled to start on the mound for MC in Game 2. First pitch is at 2 p.m.
