by Brian Turrel
The Bishop Ward Cyclones made a thriller out of their first round 3A baseball playoff against Pleasant Ridge High School, scoring two runs to come from behind in the seventh inning to win 4-3.
Damon Esparza got the game-winning RBI, driving in pinch-runner Jayden Hendricks from second with a single to center against a drawn in infield. The Cyclones had tied the score moments before when a high throw on Emilio Ramirez’s grounder plated Sergio Fierro from third.
The Rams scored their go-ahead run in the top of the sixth on a wild sequence that started when Erik Tapia came on in relief with one out and runners at first and third.
Tapia picked off the runner at first before even delivering a pitch, then he beaned Pleasant Ridge’s Mason Ewert before nearly picking him off too. The runner from third scored on a passed ball, and Tapia then closed the frame with a strikeout.
Pleasant Ridge tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run from Rams’ pitcher Nathan Herken that landed in Dorney Field. Herken previewed his power in the third with a blast that forced center fielder Dustin Rector to make a catch at the wall.
Bishop Ward got on the board in the second when Herken’s control wobbled, and he walked four consecutive batters. Juan Marron earned an RBI for his patience at the plate, then Rector pushed another run across with a sacrifice fly to right.
Christian Stein pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up 3 runs with 8 strikeouts. Tapia pitched 1 2/3 in relief and got the win.
The Cyclones will advance to play the Perry-Lecompton Kaws in the regional held at Wellsville on May 18. If they win that game, the Cyclones will play the winner of Rossville and Santa Fe Trail for the regional championship and a spot in the 3A state tournament in Manhattan on May 26 and 27.
