Eagles Stun Valley Park In Extra-Inning Comeback

The Eagles (2-1) defied the odds again in their 14-7 victory over Valley Park (3-2). Sullivan overcame a four-run deficit to tie, then pushed the Hawks into the tenth inning and scored seven to win. 

Sullivan trailed at the start of the nail-biter that took place on Mar. 27. The Hawks clawed to the top with a two-run homer in the first inning.

Drake Gawer later put the Eagles on the board with a dinger of his own.

Sullivan continued to hang on at the doorstep but struggled to soar ahead. Valley Park would rack up three more runs to cushion a 7-3 lead.

Despite falling behind, the Eagles still refused to throw in the towel. Alex Toews, Brody Gawer and Seth Valley cut their deficit to one in the sixth inning.

Valley then tied up the board for Sullivan during the seventh. He stepped up to the plate with bases loaded but two outs for the Eagles. To lift his team from the ropes, Valley drove Chase Blue home for the game-saving RBI. 

Sullivan sealed their comeback victory in the top of the tenth. Landen Doza smoked the ball over the fence, pushing the Eagles to a 9-7 lead. Then Mahlon Foster punched in a score, and Raiden Redd tripled to bring three runners home. Valley’s line drive RBI was the final nail in the coffin, with Redd handing the Hawks a seven-run deficit. 

Redd also shut the door on Valley Park from the mound. He held the Hawks down to zero scores in the final four innings. The sophomore only allowed three hits and three walks.

Before taking the hill, Redd said he took “a deep breath” and “prayed” to calm himself down. He thanked Jordan Mehl, stating, “I give all credit to my pitching coach [for helping me focus] on that strike zone because he tells me to be me and go do what I do.” Redd also gave a shoutout to Head Coach Ian Whitson, who awarded him the Most Valuable Player belt after the game.

Redd dominated at the plate with three RBIs, a run, a hit and a walk.

Nate McReynolds was the first to pitch for the Eagles. He hurled six strikeouts while giving up six hits, five earned runs and two walks.

Grant Halmick came in for relief during the fifth inning. He struck out a batter but allowed three hits and two earned runs.

Isaiah Skaggs was next out of the bullpen and pounded a strikeout.

Toews led Sullivan at-bat with a career-high three runs. He also tallied two walks, an RBI and a hit.

Doza was a force at the plate, loading up 3 RBIs, two hits and a home run.

Valley clutched two runs, 2 RBIs, two hits and a walk.

B. Gawer was lights out with two runs, two hits and an RBI.

D. Gawer powered a home run, an RBI and a hit.

Blue broke away with two runs and two hits.

Lucas Parsons put up 2 RBIs and a hit.

Mitchell Garner notched a run and a hit.

McReynolds landed two hits, while Nolan Ulrich took two walks.

Foster punched it home once.