DEXTER- Nathan Fernald hit a 3-2 pitch into left field to score Payson Rienhardt and Parker Ponte to give Dexter a 6-5 walk-off win over MCI in a high school baseball game on Friday afternoon.
The Tigers overcame six errors, including two in the first inning as MCI took a quick 2-0 advantage. Kathean Martinez started the game with a single and came around to score the first run. Joseph Curtis scored the second run after reaching on an error.
Dexter took advantage of three walks and two hit batters to score four runs in the second inning. Ponte had the big hit during the inning when he smacked a single that scored Will Spratt and Rienhardt. The Tigers had a chance to add on but left runners on second and third.
The Huskies responded quickly in the third inning when Martinez again led off with a single and came around to score. MCI took advantage of two more Tigers errors. Logan Cote had a hit that drove home two to even the score at four.
Cote came into pitch for the Huskies in the bottom of the third inning. Cote settled things down, allowing only three singles in the third through the sixth inning.
Cote would start the fifth inning by reaching on an error. He would come around to give the Huskies a 5-4 lead on a hit from Mason Berthelette.
Meanwhile on the other side, Will Kusnierz would give the Tigers an opportunity by retiring the final seven batters he faced, including the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings. Kusnierz allowed five runs (one earned) on seven hits. He didn’t issue any walks and struck out six. Kusnierz threw 83 pitches/62 strikes.
That set up the dramatics for the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh inning. It started when Rienhardt worked the count full before walking. Rienhardt stole second and third base. Ponte followed by also getting the count to 3-2 and also getting a free pass. Ponte stole second base to set up the two runners in scoring position. Fernald came up and he also worked the count full before putting the ball into left field to send the tying and winning run home.
Nate Fernald gets walk off hit.
Dexter (4-1) will play at PCHS on Monday at 4. MCI (2-3) will play at Mount View on Saturday morning at 11.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
MCI 2,0,2, 0,1,0,0- 5 7 0
Dexter 0,4,0,0,0,0,2- 6 5 6
MCI: Bottenfield, Cote (3) and E. Bagley
Dexter: W. Kusnierz and Kimball
WP: W. Kusnierz
LP: Cote
Repeat Hitters: Dexter- Dorman/MCI- Martinez
SB: Dexter- Rienhardt (2), Ponte (2): MCI- Bottenfield, E. Bagley (2),
Postgame interviews- Chad Graffam, Nate Fernald, and Will Kusnierz
