Ty Heathcock only knew one thing. His coach was telling him to keep running and he wasn’t stopping until he crossed home plate.
Erie Insurance celebrated a 6-5 victory over Womack Printing when Heathcock scored on an error to cap an exciting game in the boys 9-10 junior league. It was the first of two games Friday night at Sam Martin Field. Pigeon Hill Farms beat Security Federal 11-3 in the nightcap.
Heathcock found himself standing on second with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning after a lead-off single and walk to Oscar Diaz. Kaden Tackett came to the plate just wanting to put the ball in play to give Erie Insurance a chance to win.
Tackett accomplished the feat, though his dribbler back to the mound looked harmless at first. Instead of it being the second out though, an overthrow to first base gave Heathcock a chance to circle third and score to end the game in thrilling fashion.
It was the first win for Erie Insurance as both teams were playing their first game that counted toward the league record. Each of the league’s eight teams played in late April in a tune-up game that didn’t count to the final record.
Erie Insurance took a 5-3 lead into the fifth inning after scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jason Brewer, Jax King and Joey Rosori each had RBI hits to give their team the advantage with time dwindling down in the contest.
Rasori went out in the fifth inning hoping to close down the game for a complete-game victory, but Womack Printing was able to knot the score in the fifth. Taylor Smith had an RBI single and scored on a passed ball before Brewer entered to strikeout Reagan Woodlee to end the top of the fifth.
Erie Insurance wasn’t phased by the late comeback though as the team rallied on Heathcock’s heroics to win the game.
Logan Earls had two hits and one RBI in the loss for Womack Printing.
In game two, Pigeon Hill Farms was able to plate a run in each of the four innings to cruise to its first victory.
Kyle Johnson had a standout night as he finished with two hits, scored three runs and pitched three innings to earn the win. Braden Marcum added two hits in the victory while Curtlan George, Riley Morton, Nate Simmons and Isaak Bensley had one hit each. Simmons struck out the side in the fourth inning for the save.
Kayden Coates energized the Security Federal offense in the first inning with an RBI single. He, along with Pedro Mendez and True Craven, would also score in the first inning to give the team an early 3-2 lead before folding down the stretch. Adrian Mendez took the loss as he pitched the first three innings before giving way to Craven in the fourth.
Boys junior league action will resume Monday with two games at Sam Martin Field. Security Federal will be looking for a bounce-back win over Prater’s BBQ while Southern Standard will try to open 2-0 while battling Womack Printing.
Action is set to start at 5:30 p.m.