(May 9th, 2015) – MONTPELIER: After trailing for most of the contest, Montpelier came back to defeat North Central on Butch Stantz field. The victory will advance the Loco boys to the Sectional finals.
Montpelier bested North Central 4-3 in dramatic fashion.
It wasn’t until the top of the third that North Central scored the first runs of the game, building an early 2-0 advantage. Scoring a run in both the third and fourth innings, the hometown Locomotives tied things up with 2 runs apiece. Not deterred by this development, the Eagles reestablished control with a 1 run offering in the top of the sixth. Needing 1 run to tie or 2 to win, Montpelier had some work to do in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With two outs and the game on the line, Loco senior Jared Shoup stepped up to the plate. Knocking the ball into the outfield, he drove in 1 run with another heading for home. As he awaited the ball, North Central’s senior catcher, Colton Pilmore, stood on the base path to the plate. Though he tagged the runner out, the umpire ruled interference on Pilmore and awarded the game-winning run to Montpelier.
Shoup had 2 hits for the Locomotives, earning a double and a single. The two winning runs served as his 2 RBIs for the game. Teammate Bryce Cooley also had an RBI single, while Colin Rockey and Hunter McKelvey hit for singles as well.
Senior Josh Sawyer gave North Central a single and a double, driving in an RBI. Classmate Jordan Reeves brought home 2 RBIs from a pair of singles. Junior Dakota Pitts hit an RBI single as well.
Pitching all seven innings for Montpelier was senior Cody Caudill. He allowed 2 earned runs off of 8 hits. Without giving up a walk, Caudill struck out 4 North Central batters.
Sawyer lasted on the mound for the first five innings of play. He gave up 1 earned run from 3 hits, also striking out 5 Loco batters, while walking 1 more. Reeves came in for relief in the final 1.2 innings. Allowing 2 earned runs on 8 hits, he struck out 4 without giving up a walk.