A four-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning of a win-or-go-home game didn’t faze the Park Hill South baseball team (20-13) who battled back to defeat Oak Park (19-13) 10-9 on May 16.
When the Panthers were up to bat in the final inning of the Class 6 District 8 Quarterfinals at Creekside Baseball Complex, they trailed 9-5. The Northmen gifted the Panthers two straight walks to help Park Hill South get into scoring position en route to the five-run inning.
Park Hill South’s Dylan Graebener and Coach Josh Walker celebrate after a first inning hit against Oak Park on May 16.
An A.J. Rodriguez single sent Collin Morris home and Hayden Klein to second base to ignite the Panthers’ hitting streak that followed. Brody Hufft, who went two-for-four with 2 RBIs on the night, connected with a double in the next at-bat to bring the contest to within two runs with no outs.
After Oak Park switched pitchers, Evan Demint got out on a pop fly, but Aiden Simpson tied the game with a 2-RBI double. Simpson eventually reached third base on a passed ball with Dylan Graebener up to bat.
Graebener made the game-winning play when a sacrifice fly to center field gave Simpson enough time to tag third base and make his way home to seal off the come-from-behind victory for Park Hill South. Simpson not only scored the go-ahead run but was also dominant all night, going five-for-five with three RBIs.
Park Hill South and Oak Park had identical stats – 11 hits and one error – but the No. 4 seed made a few more plays to take down the No. 5 seed. The Panthers advanced to take on Liberty North (28-9), who has won five consecutive games against Park Hill South dating back to last season, in the semifinals.
Oak Park struck first, scoring two runs in the opening frame as Park Hill South went scoreless in the first two innings. The Panthers strung together three runs in the next two innings to take a brief 3-2 lead.
The Northmen scored in each of the final three innings, taking a 5-3 margin midway through the sixth inning. The Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning but Oak Park responded with four runs in the top of the fourth inning to go up 9-5.