Huskies rally in eighth for 5-4 walk off win

By Jeff Yoder
Posted 6/1/22

After Lone Tree put up three runs in the top of the eighth inning on Thursday, things looked grim for Highland, down 4-1 with three outs left in the game. 

But a couple of walks and a single …

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Huskies rally in eighth for 5-4 walk off win

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After Lone Tree put up three runs in the top of the eighth inning on Thursday, things looked grim for Highland, down 4-1 with three outs left in the game. 

But a couple of walks and a single would load the bases for senior Brenton Bonebrake with no outs. 

“We were scared, our heads were down for a little bit,” Bonebrake said. “And then as soon as I hit the ball, it brought the mood up. Everyone just got really excited and we knew we were back in it.”

Bonebrake’s 2-run single brought the Huskies within a run, and Peyton Yeggy scored on a wild pitch to tie it. An intentional walk loaded the bases again with no outs and Trevor McFarland put the ball in play to keep the Huskies unbeaten with a 5-4 victory. 

“Our kids never quit,” Highland coach Seth Milledge said. “They haven’t for years and they’re not going to do that.”

While Highland made a few mistakes under pressure in the top of the eighth inning, the Huskies were able to turn the tables with Bonebrake’s big hit. 

“At that point, it’s a one-run game and the pressure is back on Lone Tree a little bit,” Milledge said. “We’re at home, we’ve got no outs, we’ve got two runners on and now it’s on them. they have to throw strikes, they have to do those things. And you saw the result of us being able to do the same thing back to them. We were fortunate to come out of here with a win tonight. Lone Tree played a good game.”

Lion starter Adam Knock pitched around four walks and three hit batters to allow just one run on one hit through 4 and 1/3 innings. 

Cade Shield got two huge strikeouts with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and retired eight in a row heading into the eighth. 

Both Connor Grinstead and Yeggy drew key walks with a full count in the final inning. Grinstead finished 1-2 with two walks while Chase Schultz and Ethan Paisley each walked twice as well. Bonebrake finished 2-3 at the plate with two steals. Luke Miller and McFarland each had a hit and an RBI. 

Matt Hemsted led the Lone Tree offense, going 2-4 with a pair of RBIs while Gavin Pourroy had a hit and an RBI.

Paisley pitched all eight innings for the Huskies, allowing one earned run on six hits and two walks. 

“I thought Ethan pitched a great game,” Milledge said. 

“You’re in a 1-1 game going to the eighth inning and I think he’s at 90 pitches at that point. So he was efficient all night. He was around the zone. He had 11 strikeouts tonight and then just pitched to contact again and let our defense play. And most of the night we played well. In the eighth inning the wheels fell off and we were fortunate to come back and put together the type of offensive display we did there at the end.”