SAN SOUCI -After standing in the dugout for nearly two plus hours, a cold Tyler Mills patiently waited for his name to be called.
Deadlocked at 4 all, in the bottom of the seventh inning, he finally got the call. Showing the utmost confidence in him, Sandalwood head coach Billy Bell called Mills off the bench and into a pinch hit role.
Mills delivered with a walk off single to left scoring Ricky Hartless from second to give the Saints a 5-4 come from behind win over arch-rival Fletcher at San Souci Park to secure the Saints second straight Gateway Conference baseball title.
Reaching temperatures in the low 60’s, on a cold and chilly night Mills calmly stepped in the box and delivered a blazing hot single over short to help his team out.
Tyler Mills comes through with clutch one out walkoff single to right helping Sandalwood to second straight Gateway Conference title. @sandalwoodathl1 pic.twitter.com/168gQu7EDy
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) April 21, 2018
His heroics were needed after the Saints blew a 4-2 lead in the sixth as the Senators tied the game with two runs in the top of the inning thanks to two hits and a walk.
Early on it looked like the Saints wouldn’t need any late game drama as they jumped out to a 1-0 lead, only to see the Senators tie it, yet every time the Senators would answer the Saints were quick to respond taking a 4-2 lead late in the game.
A one out single to left by Hunter Bradshaw was followed by a two out double to right by Harless allowing Bradshaw to score from first to give the Saints an early 1-0 lead after three.
However, Fletcher quickly answered in the top of the fourth with a run of its own as with two outs Mackie Bell walked, Isaih Harris single to right and ensuing error on the Saints right fielder advanced both runners to second and third.
Jevin Relaford was intentionally walked and Ian Brown picked up a RBI on a four pitch walk allowing Bell to score the tying run.
Sandalwood answered with two more as Nick Schroeder singled to center, Jared Geis singled to center scoring Schroeder from second and Geis scored on John Goodier single to left center putting the Saints up 3-1 after four.
Again, the Senators responded in the top of the fifth as Aidan Fernandez walked and came around to score on Blake Pound’s RBI single to left cutting the lead to 3-2.
Like it did every inning, every time Fletcher scored in the top of the inning to grab momentum, Sandalwood would answer and seize it back.
Hartless hit a one out solo home run over the right field wall to increase the Saints lead to 4-2 heading to the sixth inning.
Lead off batter Relaford reached on a bunt single to lead off the sixth and Brown walked to put Senators on first and second with nobody out. Two batter later, a one out RBI single to right scored Relaford cutting the lead to 4-3 and advanced Brown to third. A grounder to second scored Brown tying the game at four all.
Fletcher had a chance in the top of the seventh as with two outs Relaford reached on a single to right and Brown walked; however a pop up to first base ended the threat.
In the bottom of the seventh, Carson Bayne reached second on an error by the right fielder after he lost the ball in the right corner of play. Hartless was intentionally walked and both moved to second and third on Korbin Kirton sac bunt putting the winning run at third for the Saints.
However, a missed sign drew Bayne off third and into a pickle play as Bayne was tagged out between third and home for the second out of the inning.
Fletcher fans and players drew a sigh of relief and several high fives after the play thinking they were going to get out the jam.
However, Mills had other ideas and stepped in the box and fresh out of the dugout delivered a roper over short allowing Hartless to score setting off a wild celebration by the Saints.
Hartless (2 for 3 with 2 RBI) and Trey Guzzone (2 for 3) led the Saints at the plate, while Relaford (3 for 4) and Cherokee Nichols (2 for 3) led the Senators.
Bell was extremely happy for his team and is hoping this weeks momentum can carry over in two weeks to the upcoming district tournament as well.
Sandalwood coach Billy Bell thoughts on come from behind win and next weeks District 1-9A tournament. @sandalwoodathl1 pic.twitter.com/M8U1U3b8yC
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) April 21, 2018
Before Sandalwood (15-7) can think about the district tournament yet they still have one final regular season game left against a good Bartram Trail team next Tuesday on the road.
Fletcher (14-8) has games against Jackson (Mon) and Ribault (Thur) next week before competing in its District 2-8A tournament the following week.
