Gerardo Torres snapped out of a hitting slump with a walk-off single in a 9-8 win over rival South on Monday.
With the score tied 8-8 and runners on second and third, Torres dropped a single into left field, giving the Rangers the rivalry win.
“The walk-off was great,” said Torres, who finished 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. “I’ve been in a little hitting slump, and that was very needed. I was also down in the count 0-2 and I called time, stepped out of the box, took a deep breath, and told myself over and over again in the box to see the ball and play catch with the bat and the outcome of it was great I can’t explain how great it was to beat South. I am especially proud of my teammates and coaches for having faith in us and playing our hearts out today.”
South struck first with a run on two hits in the top of the first inning.
North responded with two runs in the bottom of the second and another in the third for a 3-1 advantage.
South went up 4-3 with a three-run fourth, and the Rebels added another run in the fifth.
The Rangers answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-5 lead.
Torres was hit by a pitch to start the rally and later scored on a passed ball. Brady Trem walked, and Braylon Rolf doubled. Brady Pennza delivered a two-run single in the clutch.
South regained the lead with three runs on three hits in the sixth, but the Rangers were determined to win the game.
“Our guys just don’t cave,” said North coach Mike Duncan.
They scored one run in the sixth and added two in the seventh to seal the victory.
Patrick Keough reached an error to start the North seventh, and Tyler Leasure singled him home with two outs, tying the game 8-8.
Nate Sagendorph reached on an error and later moved to second, setting up Torres’ walk-off.
“It was a typical North-South game,” Duncan said. “It was loud and pretty crazy, with a good ending for us.”
Rolf and Leasure both finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Rangers, and Pennza was 2-for-4. Torres, Brady Trem, Ethan Grinstead, and Sagendorph also had hits for North.
Jacob Breen started the game on the mound for the Rangers and allowed four unearned runs on four hits, and he struck out four in 3 2/3 innings. Keough pitched 1 2/3 innings of middle relief. He allowed four earned runs on four hits.
Torres replaced Keough in the sixth and picked up the pitching victory after along one hit and fanning three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
“I went in to pitch with the mindset of have fun, don’t listen to the other team, and to just play the game,” Torres said. “Pitching was a crucial part of our game today. As a rotation, we did pretty solid, but some errors here and there, but overall, it was amazing. On my part, pitching, I felt great–no pain in my arm, and I felt great on the mound.”
With the win, the Rangers improved to 7-8 overall and 4-3 in the Western Reserve Conference.
“I’m hoping this keeps us right in the thick of the WRC race,” Duncan said. “The kids are certainly fired up about beating South, and hopefully, we can just keep it rolling from here.”
The Rangers travel to St. Vincent-St. Mary on Tuesday.