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Poland rallies to bounce Marlington in walk-off win
By BRIAN DZENIS
STRUTHERS
Poland spent most of Friday’s Division II District final in denial.
Regardless of what the scoreboard said, the reigning state semifinalist Bulldogs did not believe their season would end at Bob Cene Park.
“We didn’t want the season to end and we kept telling each other that we didn’t want to end,” Poland’s Matt Baker said. “Now we get to go to regionals and keep playing.”
Dan Klase’s RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh ensured that his team would keep on playing after downing Marlington, 7-6, in the final.
With one out and runners at second and first, Klase hit a shot to center field to score catcher Nick Petrolla.
“When I was going up to bat, my coaches told me to stay calm and just told me to do what I know how to do. A couple players came up and told me the same thing,” Klase said. “I went up there with confidence hoping I would find the hole and get the hit.”
Marlington was able to get the ball back to reliever Matt Sivy, but he couldn’t get the ball where it needed to be to get Petrolla out.
“I didn’t know if Petrolla was going to make it coming around third, but he snuck in there,” Poland coach Rich Murray said.
The Bulldogs survived an early deficit, a well-placed kick and seventh-inning rally to earn the trip to regionals.
Poland (26-3) fell behind 4-0 in the fourth inning and starter Mike Maillis gave way to Baker after giving up the first two runs.
Baker inherited a bases-loaded situation with two outs, giving up two more runs before ending the inning.
After that, Baker didn’t allow another run, giving up only a hit and a walk through 3 1/3 innings of work to get the win.
The Bulldogs got back in the game by picking on Marlington centerfielder Brock Begue. After a fielder’s choice broke the shutout, Eric White hit a two-run triple over Begue’s head as he was rushing toward the ball.
Begue played the next two hits his way in the sixth to deep. Baker hit the go-ahead two-run double that landed just short of the junior.
“I got jammed a bit and I hoped it would drop,” Baker said. “It was a great moment rounding first base.”
Don Drummond scored Baker in similar fashion.
In the top of the seventh, Baker was pulled for Jared Burkert. Murray was reluctant to use Burkert in both the semifinals and finals.
“He was ready to go the other day, he was in the bullpen pitching. I was worried he threw too much in the bullpen,” Murray said. “We tried to get through it without him so he could go next week, but he came in and did what he had to do.”
An RBI-single from the Dukes’ Tyler Tokos brought Marlington within one. It looked like the game would end with Petrolla tagging Andrew Heppe out at home, but a bizarre play forced the tie. Heppe dove head-first home and kicked the ball out of Petrolla’s glove. Heppe was called safe.
“I thought that was going to be it. We’re going to have to talk to him about holding the ball with two hands,” Murray said of his catcher. “Stuff like that happens and you just have to keep battling.”
Burkert coaxed a groundout to end the inning before Klase’s walk-off hit.
Poland will face Notre Dame Cathedral Latin on Thursday at the Ball Park at Hudson.