MANISTEE – It took everything Hesperia’s baseball team could muster Tuesday, May 27 as the Panthers earned a district semifinals berth with a 4-3 win over Manistee in walk-off fashion.
With Panthers’ ace Blake Sayer on the mound, Hesperia’s defense kept the game tight. Manistee was able to strike first, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly, followed by a fielding error by Hesperia right fielder Anderson Boes.
Hesperia quickly evened it up in the bottom of the first, turning a Hudson Schmitz double and a Boes single into two runs. The Panthers took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning as Ethan O’Neil drove in Skyler Stalbaum on a line-drive single toward the Manistee shortstop.
The Mariners recorded a single and another sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning to bring the score even again. From that point, the game turned to a pitcher’s duel that kept the score at a stalemate through the end of regulation.
It took nine innings for the game to come to a conclusion with Hesperia at the plate. Sayer started the bottom of the ninth with a single before stealing second base. Schmitz singled to left field immediately after, advancing Sayer to third.
Manistee opted for an intentional walk on Boes to get out of the heart of Hesperia’s order. With the bases loaded, Abe Escobedo put on his cape and became the hero of the day. Escobedo hit into a fielder’s choice at second base, prompting Sayer to take off toward home plate.
Sayer scored, bringing the day’s proceedings to a close and advancing Hesperia to the district semifinals.
Hesperia was led by Noah Walker who went 3-for-4 at the plate while Sayer was an equally impressive 3-for-5. O’Neil, Schmitz, Boes and Escobedo all recorded runs batted in. Sayer pitched eight and one-third innings, allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out seven. Weston Hasted entered in relief in the top of the ninth.
The Panthers moved to 8-17 overall and will prepare for a district semifinals matchup with West Michigan Conference Rivers opponent Hart Saturday, May 31. That game will take place at 10 a.m. at Hart’s baseball field.
