Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer 

VINCENT – Coming off of a game where they showed off their bats and created major noise at the plate, the Vincent Yellow Jackets continued hitting their way to victory in a tight game with the Altamont Knights.

Vincent defeated Altamont 11-10 on Tuesday, Feb. 18, returning any sparks of energy that the Knights created with some of equal or greater value.

Altamont wasted no time getting things going in this one, making an effort to put early pressure on the Yellow Jackets and score right off the bat in the top of the first. Following a lead-off single, the Knights’ runner advanced all the way around to third during the next two at-bats before scoring on a passed ball from starting pitcher Landon Archer. Just like that, it was 1-0.

While Altamont made some threats in the next two innings that followed the early run, it could not capitalize. In response, Vincent made its move in the bottom of the third. After Aiden Gasaway got hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, Casen Fields laid down a bunt to advance Gasaway to second base. Just after that Grayson Gulde was also hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Following two consecutive strikeouts soon after, Ethan McElrath laced a double into center field, clearing the bases and giving the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 lead. However, the party was only just getting started for both sides.

In the top of the fourth, an error, single and hit batsman loaded the bases for the Knights before a single drove a run in, still with no outs. A walk and a fielder’s choice on back-to-back batter’s gave the lead back to Altamont. Then, a couple of batters late with two outs, an error from Vincent extended the lead to 5-3.

With a four-run top of the fourth hanging over its head, Vincent could not think of anything better to do than to just fight. Dakota Newton led off the bottom of the fourth with a double before handing the bat off to Keller Finn, strongly legging out a single. Later, after a walk with the bases loaded, Gulde earned yet another walk for his career, making it 5-4.

Later in the inning, Aiden Poe drove a hit to center field, which resulted in an error and two runs. McElrath continued right after, stroking a ball into left field to score two more runs at 8-5.

The Knights did not let this hang over their head for long though.

Altamont kicked off the top of the sixth inning with back-to-back walks before hitting a solid single into center field and then taking a hit from a pitch. Now, with the bases loaded, a single was hit into the outfield, a Knights; hitter stroked a single to score two baserunners, making it 8-7.

What happened next though was even more breathtaking. The Knights took their one run lead and extended it due to a home run over the wall in left field, making it 10-8 with an advantage towards Altamont.

The Yellow Jackets were not letting this game slip away however. Poe, Newton and Calvin Johnson each stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth and all reached on errors. As a result, Finn put a hard single into center field, scoring McElrath and Johnson, while also tying the game.

Immediately following, Gasaway singled as well, and a couple of batters later, Finn scored to break the tie and make the score 11-10, with a Vincent advantage.

The Yellow Jackets made every effort possible to protect that lead in the seventh, and that they did, securing an 11-10 win in a highly offensive game.

Gasaway earned the win on the mound for the game with five runs given up on three hits, while also throwing three strikeouts and two walks. Archer and Johnson also pitched this game, combining to give up five runs on five hits, recording eight punchouts and three walks.

Finn proved to be a big name in this game as well, recording three hits on the day with two runs scored and two RBI, including his assistance in the final frame of Vincent’s offense.

The Yellow Jackets move to 4-0 on the season with the win and will take the field once again on Friday, Feb. 21 when they hit the road to take on the St. Clair County Fighting Saints. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

The game that was set for Thursday, Feb. 20 at Munford has been postponed and will be played at a later date.