There were rocket hits that rolled all the way to fence, sparkling defensive plays that stopped baserunners in their tracks, and three extra innings of back-and-forth baseball.

The semifinal tournament matchup between Solomon Consulting and Fully Loaded lived up to its billing Monday night at Milner Recreation Center with Solomon Consulting earning a 17-16 win in the boys 7-8 coach pitch league.

Knox Underhill produced the winning runs in the bottom of the eighth. With Fully Loaded clinging to a 16-15 lead, Phoenix Hyer reached base with a hit for Solomon Consulting to set the stage for Underhill. Knox crushed a two-strike pitch that rolled past the right fielder and he had the green light all the way.

Knox darted around the bases for a two-run home run to account for the winning margin and propel Solomon Consulting to the championship game.

There were plenty of highlights and Fully Loaded looked like it might have enough breathing room to prevail with a 12-6 lead in the top of the fourth. Jett Rains was clutch when he hit a bases loaded triple with two outs. Hayden Rockhart then drove in Jett with a home run, his second big hit of the game.

Solomon got out of the inning when catcher Phoenix Hyer made a running grab in foul territory.

Fully Loaded made two nice infield plays in the bottom of the fourth to get outs at second base. But Aaiden Lyles salvaged something from the inning when he crushed a two-run home run to center field to cut the lead to 12-8.

Fully Loaded was held scoreless in the top of the fifth, forcing Solomon to score 4 runs to tie it, or 5 runs to win. Jordan Hyer was all over a pitch and scored two runs with a double to help Solomon tie the game, 12-12, with no outs and runners on first and second. But three straight strikeouts forced extra innings.

Gage Woodlee showed his defensive skills for Fully Loaded from his shortstop position in the bottom of the sixth. Woodlee caught Aaiden Lyles off the bag and chased him down in foul territory for one out, then he caught a high fly ball for another out.

Base running proved costly for Fully Loaded in the top of the eighth when two base runners were tagged out between second and third base on plays where they didn’t have to run and could have stayed at second. When Fully Loaded only scored once to take a 16-15 lead, there was a feeling that lead wouldn’t be enough with the top of the Solomon Consulting lineup looming. That premonition proved true.

For the game, Solomon Consulting was led by Phoenix Hyer and Knox Underhill with 4 runs each. River Alford and River Griffith scored 3 runs each.

Colin Eckart led Fully Loaded with 5 runs, while Jett Rains and Gage Woodlee scored 3 runs each.