Warner’s Walk Off Single Drives in Two Runs for Come-From-Behind Semifinal Victory
On Wednesday, May 8, the Indian Creek Varsity Baseball team faced the Obezags of Key School in the semifinals of the MIAA C-Conference playoffs. Down by one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, junior John Warner hit a two-run bloop single to drive in the tying and winning runs to end a tension-filled game.
The Eagles began the game strong, as starting pitcher Evan Selmer '21 struck out two and forced an easy ground out in the top of the first. The bottom of the first saw the Creek take a three run lead and the home fans were cheering with glee.
Alas, the Eagles gave up one run in the second, plus three more in the third inning as Key took a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Travis Garnett came on in relief and pitched scoreless fourth and fifth innings to settle the nerves of the Eagles and their fans. Meanwhile, the Eagles tied the score at 4-4 when junior Maurice Elder stole home on a passed ball in the bottom of the third.
Selmer re-entered as a pitcher for the sixth and seventh innings and pitched well but gave up one run in the top of the sixth to allow Key to take a 5-4 lead that held as the teams began the last half inning. Alex Seidleck '21 led off with a single, but then Travis Garnett hit into a double-play to clear the bases of all Creek runners. The Eagles needed one run to tie and two to win with two outs, or their championship hopes would be gone.
Maurice Elder got a hit to put the tying run at first. Junior Parker Harris was next up and drew a walk to put the winning run on base. Jordan Cann '20 earned a walk in a nerve-wracking 8-pitch at-bat to load the bases, bringing Warner to the plate. With the count 1 and 1, on the third pitch Warner faced he swung the bat and connected just hard enough to bloop the ball over the first and second basemen, but not hard enough for the right fielder to have a play on the ball. Elder and Harris were running at the crack of the bat. Elder scored standing up to tie the game and Harris beat the throw home from right field to score the winning run as the Eagles defeated the Obezags 6-5.
The Eagles will now play in the C Conference Championship game next Tuesday, May 13, at St. Paul’s School in Baltimore against either Concordia Prep or Saints Peter & Paul.
The Eagles began the game strong, as starting pitcher Evan Selmer '21 struck out two and forced an easy ground out in the top of the first. The bottom of the first saw the Creek take a three run lead and the home fans were cheering with glee.
Alas, the Eagles gave up one run in the second, plus three more in the third inning as Key took a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Travis Garnett came on in relief and pitched scoreless fourth and fifth innings to settle the nerves of the Eagles and their fans. Meanwhile, the Eagles tied the score at 4-4 when junior Maurice Elder stole home on a passed ball in the bottom of the third.
Selmer re-entered as a pitcher for the sixth and seventh innings and pitched well but gave up one run in the top of the sixth to allow Key to take a 5-4 lead that held as the teams began the last half inning. Alex Seidleck '21 led off with a single, but then Travis Garnett hit into a double-play to clear the bases of all Creek runners. The Eagles needed one run to tie and two to win with two outs, or their championship hopes would be gone.
Maurice Elder got a hit to put the tying run at first. Junior Parker Harris was next up and drew a walk to put the winning run on base. Jordan Cann '20 earned a walk in a nerve-wracking 8-pitch at-bat to load the bases, bringing Warner to the plate. With the count 1 and 1, on the third pitch Warner faced he swung the bat and connected just hard enough to bloop the ball over the first and second basemen, but not hard enough for the right fielder to have a play on the ball. Elder and Harris were running at the crack of the bat. Elder scored standing up to tie the game and Harris beat the throw home from right field to score the winning run as the Eagles defeated the Obezags 6-5.
The Eagles will now play in the C Conference Championship game next Tuesday, May 13, at St. Paul’s School in Baltimore against either Concordia Prep or Saints Peter & Paul.
Indian Creek School
Indian Creek school is a co-educational, college preparatory independent school, located in Crownsville, Maryland. Students in Pre-K3 through grade 12 receive a vibrant educational experience based on excellent academics steeped in strong student-teacher connections.
