VICTORIA – The message for the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted baseball team has been the same all season long. It’s been about dealing with adversity.
The Lakers dealt with plenty of adversity in their Section 5AA matchup with the Holy Family Fire. Down 10-1 after four innings of play, HLWW was just one run away from being sent home for good via the mercy rule. Instead, the Lakers battled. They rallied back to not only tie the game but keep their season alive with a 13-11 win in nine innings to knock off the Fire June 4.
“We talked about our core values all year and how there’s going to be moments that all hope seems to be lost,” Lakers coach Tyler Maher said. “We also talked about what our options were on how to respond. Well, down 10-1, I told the guys that we have two options – roll over and be done, or fight for what we want. It was up to them.”
HLWW chose to fight. The Lakers scored two runs in the fifth to give them some life, but the rally really started in the top of the sixth.
“Putting together quality at-bats, our bottom of the order doing what they have to to get on base, and our top producing allowed us to have a chance,” Maher said. “Sometimes it just takes a spark. Sparks come in different forms. The game was 10-3. I came in from the inning telling our guys we’ve been here before and we know what can happen.”
With two outs, back-to-back singles from Bennett Anderson and Bennett Paulson loaded the bases for Noah Bush. On the third pitch he saw, Bush delivered for the Lakers with an inside-the-park grand slam to bring HLWW within three at 10-7.
“We started off the game a little shaky,” Bush said., “The body language wasn’t where it needed to be, but after our senior leaders talked to our whole team, we realized it wasn’t over and one thing led to another. They gave us an opportunity and we took advantage of it.”
Bush’s big hit gave the Lakers life heading into the top of the seventh. Then it was time for another player to step up, although this a freshman. Singles from Jake Zander and Anderson set up a pair of runners. With two outs, Holy Family opted to walk Bush this time around and load the bases.
That gave Colton Long a chance to deliver for his team. With two outs and the Lakers down by three, Long cleared the bases with an RBI double, tying the game at 11.
“It feels really nice seeing our younger kids stepping up and taking charge,” Bush said. “Those younger guys stepping up is what our team and program needed. It is all due to everyone staying calm and playing our game.”
A tie game all of a sudden, the Lakers leaned on Anderson on the mound. A quiet bottom of the seventh inning for Holy Family sent the game into extra innings as Anderson continued to give his team a chance by eating up innings on the mound.
“I appreciate the coaches and team believing in me throughout the game,” Anderson said. “I’m also confident in my abilities because I’ve been in many tough situations before.”
Anders threw the final seven innings for HLWW, allowing just two runs over the final six.
After neither team could get anything going in the top of the eighth, HLWW grabbed their first lead of the game in the top of the ninth. Jack Stutsman and Anderson opened the inning with back-to-back singles and a walk to Paulson loaded the bases once again for Bush. This time, Stutsman scored on a passed ball, giving HLWW a 12-11 lead. Holy Family then elected to walk Bush, loading the bases again for the Lakers.. It was Long who delivered once again. This time with a sacrifice fly to score Anderson and give HLWW a two-run cushion.
Those two runs would be proved to be enough as Anderson retired the Fire in order in the bottom of the ninth, sealing the thrilling comeback win for HLWW.
“This whole game was surreal and we never got down on ourselves,” Anderson said. “We were confident in our abilities the whole time no matter the score. Our bench guys were a huge part of the comeback as they were rooting us on and encouraging everyone the whole time.”
With the win, the Lakers advance to the Section 5AA final four where they’ll take on Breck in another elimination game.
“Effort, attitude, selflessness, excellence, and energy,” Maher said about the keys to the comeback. “We kept all of it and it gave us a chance to be successful. These boys earned their way to the final four and I’m confident they will keep being competitive.”
Follow Kip Kovar on Twitter – @Kovar_HJSports