As the night went on and the temperatures got cooler, the action was heating up on Dottie West Field and the games got closer. Custom Collision held the lead throughout the game but everyone knows, it is not where you start, it is where you finish and Gary Steele Karate finished the game in the lead.
Gary Steele Karate trailed 5-1 and was down to its final three outs. The karate kids put together an unbelievable string of base hits for an epic come-from-behind win. Gary Steele Karate defeated Custom Collision, 6-5.
Down to their final three outs and down 5-1, Kendall Patrick started the inning off with a huge hit that landed him on second base for a double. Will Wrisner followed with a walk and Rance McBride reached first base and with no outs Gary Steele Karate had the bases loaded. Back-to-back sacrifice bunts moved the runners around the bases and with two outs Gary Steele Karate had cut into the lead 5-4.
Eli Cantrell drew a walk and he quickly made his way to second base. Jason Brewer walked and both runners moved over one base. Joey Rasori hit a line-drive base hit that scored both runners from second and third base and Gary Steele Karate claimed its first lead of the game at 6-5 in dramatic fashion.
Early in the game Jarred Scruggs and Brady Pegg each had base hits and stolen bases that helped Custom Collision take a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first. Hayden Lytle singled but he was left stranded on second base.
In the bottom of the first for Gary Steele Karate, Brewer was the sole source on offense. He singled and after a base hit advanced him to second base, Brewer then was given the green light and advanced himself to third but he would not get any further.
Sean Cope was hit by a pitch to put him on first base with one out in the top of the second. Another strikeout followed for out two and Scruggs drew a walk. Both batters were left on base after the final out was made following Scruggs’ walk.
Gary Steele Karate was never in the game in the early innings and the rhythm of the team just was not in line. In the bottom of the second inning Gary Steele Karate went three up, three down and they trailed 2-0.
In the third, Lytle and Blake Adams each had singles for Custom Collision. Gary Steel Karate then picked up two consecutive strikeouts to halt the momentum building on the Custom Collision side. Curtlan George drew a walk to load the bases and the final out came when Lytle was about to cross the plate, and Custom Collision was held scoreless for the second straight inning.
In the bottom of the third, Eli Cantrell drew a walk after a lead-off strikeout for Gary Steele Karate. He was then sacrificed down to second base by Brewer. Rasori singled to the outfield and it was just enough to bring around Cantrell for the first run of the game by Gary Steele Karate, 2-1.
In the top of the fourth, Custom Collision went on a tear and after a lead-off strikeout, its offense went on a hit-and-run clinic to try to ensure the win. With two down, Pegg blasted a shot in the hole for a single and he wasted no time and advanced to second base. Lytle found a pitch he liked and he jumped on it. He crushed a double to the gap and Pegg scored from second base for a 3-1 lead. Adams singled again and Lytle was on third base. Bryan Bynum smashed a double for himself and Custom Collision was on the move. Lytle and Adams each crossed the plate for a 5-1 lead before the final out.
With a four-run lead it seemed as though the game was in hand but Custom Collision forgot to play defense in the bottom of the fourth inning and Gary Steele Karate exploded for a five-run inning and defeated Custom Collision by a final score of 6-5.