Greencastle wins in extra inning again, taking down A No. 2 Clay City

Tiger Cub baseball fans could not have asked for a better scenario Thursday night.

With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth and the bases loaded, clean-up hitter Treyten Clark hit one over a pulled in outfield for a walk off 3-2 extra inning victory over the visiting Clay City Eels.

The game did not start well for Greencastle though. In the top of the first, the Eels were able to plate two runs.

Wyatt Adams reached on an error. Zain Keller then got to first on a fielder’s choice and Noah Atkinson singled to set the table. A wild pitch then advanced the runs and Logan Stoelting laced a single to drive in the runners.

With two outs, starter Boyd Ensley got himself out of the jam by coaxing a ground out to end the inning. The Eels would leave two on, which would be a continuing theme.

In the third, Clay City threatened again. With the bases loaded and just one out, Trey Dayhoff ripped a line drive destined to be a hit, but Jaylen Bushong made an outstanding diving catch. Ensley was able to get the next out and kill the rally.

Greencastle would tie it up in the fourth inning without getting a hit. Nathan Sutherlin walked and Treyton Clark reached on an error.

Wade Hamilton came in to pinch hit and laid down a great sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. Owen Huff hit what looked like an inning-ending ground out, but the shortstop fell and the ball went to the outfield as both runners came around to knot the game up at 2-2.

Clay City looked poised to score in the fifth after a single and double put runners in scoring position, but once again Ensley was up to the task and retired Trey Dayhoff on a fly ball.

Ensley pitched into the eighth as neither team could get anything going, though a walk to Dayhoff to start the inning was the end of Ensley night, pitching seven strong.

“I wish you could write a whole article on Boyd Ensley. With all the injuries we’ve had, he has had to pitch a lot of innings for us,” Greencastle coach Ben Wells said.

Collin Dryer singled and Wyatt Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice to put two men on. Relief pitcher Jaylen Bushong got Brayden Baumgartner to ground out to get out of the jam.

The bats came alive in the bottom half for Greencastle. Chase Carrington singled, Bushong reached on a fielder’s choice and both runners advanced on a throwing error. The Eels then walked Sutherlin to load the bases.

Clay City went to the bullpen, but it was Clark who delivered as he took the first pitch over the left fielder’s head for a walk-off single, giving Greencastle the 3-2 win.

“Usually, we are on the other end of these games this year. Clay City is a good baseball team. It was great for us to pull this one out. We made the plays when we needed to,” added coach Wells.

Greencastle moves to 12-10 on the season, while Clay City falls to 16-6 on the campaign. Bushong picked up the victory in relief for the Cubs. Huff and Carrington each had two hits.

Clay City 200 000 00 — 2 9 3

Greencastle 000 200 01 — 3 6 2

Batting — (G) Huff 2-3, Carrington 2-4, Bushong 1-4, Clark 1-4; (CC) Stoelting 4-4, Atkinson 2-4,

RBI — (G) Huff 2, Clark 1; (CC) Stoelting 2

2B — (CC) Shaw

SB — (CC) Stoelting, Johnson

SAC — (G) Hamilton, Ensley

LOB — G 3 CC 12

WP — Bushong IP, H

Ensley 7 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 R (2 ER)

LP — Keller 5 IP, 4 H, BB, 8 K, 3 R (ER)

Dayhoff 2 IP, H, K

Shaw 0 IP, H