YSE File Photo
Late-game heroics turned out to be the difference for Montgomery Central in Elkton Friday night. The Indians scored a pair of runs in the top of the 7th to turn a one-run deficit into a one-run win as they got past the Todd County Central Rebels 4-3.
After a leadoff walk in the 7th was lost due to a baserunning mistake, a line out put Montgomery Central’s backs firmly against the wall. Down to their final two strikes, the Indians got two singles and a double to score the tying and lead runs.
The Rebels had their chance to take the win back in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, Zack Robinson tripled and Hayden Strader reached base on an infield single to give the Rebels runners on the corners. But a ground out ended the game with the tying run agonizingly close to the plate.
The Rebels had taken the lead early in the night. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Todd County Central’s Aaron Mansfield drove in a pair of runs with a single to center to put the Rebels up 2-1.
After the Indians tied the game in the top of the third, the Rebels went back in front in the bottom of the 5th on a base hit from Hayden Strader that scored Blake Elgin, making it a 3-2 Todd Central lead.
Zack Robinson and Hayden Strader each went 2-3 on the night. Aaron Mansfield was 1-4 and had 2 RBIs.
Robinson was tagged with the loss despite a solid effort on the hill. He went all 7 innings, giving up four runs, three of them earned, on 8 hits, striking out eight and walking just one.
Todd County Central (4-11) is now off until Thursday when they go on the road to Metcalfe County.
