Dace Construction Walks-Off Gerald On A Miracle In The Rain

Commentator Al Michaels once said, “Do you believe in miracles?” when America upset the Soviet Union in the ice hockey rink. Forty-five years later, the same question was being asked at a rainy Bartolotta Field in Sullivan, Missouri.

It was the bottom of the third, and Dace Construction stepped up to bat for their last chance to rally back. Staring down a two-run deficit, the 10U team needed a miracle to lift them from the jaws of defeat.

Gerald was the first team to score, but Reid Bayless later stole a 3-1 lead for Dace Construction. He cleared the bases with a double, driving Drake Moore, Izaiah Landa and Carter Hall home.

But when Gerald returned to the plate, they continued pressing on the gas pedal and piled up four more runs.

Dace Construction still hung on and evened the scoreboard at five apiece in the bottom of the second. Bayless came in clutch again, blasting a triple that allowed Hall and Moore to score. 

Gerald eventually returned back on top, leading 7-5 after the top of the third.

Despite falling behind again, Dace Construction was not going to let the rain crash their parade and poured their hearts out into their final at-bats.

Ethan Dace first walked to the dish, cutting his team’s deficit to one with two outs on the board.

Then Landa stepped up to the plate, resting his bat and the weight of the world on his shoulders. He swung two strikes but was lifted up by his teammates, who chanted his name in the dugout. Landa took a deep breath, then drove the ball deep, sending Walter Wertich and Carter Soisson home, as well as Gerald. His two-RBI single walked off Dace Construction to an 8-7 victory.

Head Coach Bing Cook could not have been any prouder of his boys. He believes the comeback was possible due to the constant encouragement from his coaches and players. “The dugout got crazy and started cheering their teammates on, and that’s what causes… a rally,” Cook explained. “Plus, we had a rally squirrel out in the outfield... It came around the fence right there and ran right over here. [So] I said, ‘Come on, guys. We’ve got the rally squirrel on our side.’”

Dace Construction has had a season that has made its players, coaches and parents believe in miracles. Gerald was their fourth victory, where they scored their game-winning runs on their final at-bats.

After nearly thirty-five years of coaching Dace Construction, Cook looks to cap off what could be his last season on a high note. His team had their eyes set on the Sullivan Baseball Association 10U Championship. They battled the Eaton’s Cardinals for the title on Monday, Jun. 16. Stats were unavailable at press time.

Before the matchup, Cook stated, “I’ve never coached in a division where there were only two teams before. So I told the other coaches... ‘Well, I guess we’re just going to trade wins and losses all season long.’ It was a joke, but sure enough, that’s the way it worked out… Here we are with the number one game coming up Monday, you know, to decide. Now they have scored more runs than we have, so if we lose, we’ll be tied… But they could possibly win the division by their points scored against us through the season... so we have to win.”

Cook shouted out his coaching staff, which consists of his son and manager, Brad, as well as assistants Cliff Labbe and Ron Gargus, for being “sterling all year.”

Center fielder Hall also thanked his coaches for helping mentor him and his teammates to success. “They’ve done a good job coaching,” he exclaimed. “They come here out of their own time [when] they don’t really have to do this.”

Hall believes that the coaches’ encouragement has given his team the “confidence” to win close battles. He remarked, “Even if we’re down like 5-0 in the first inning, I think we will still be able to come back.”

Hall topped Dace Construction with three stolen bases. He also collected two runs and two walks in the rainy nail-biter.

The center fielder praised Bayless for giving a “monster”-like performance against Gerald. Bayless was lights out, batting a perfect 2-for-2 and leading with a whopping 5 RBIs. He drove the first three runners home on a double, then later two more on a game-tying triple. Bayless also stole a base in the bottom of the first.

Hall described Landa as “the most clutch you ever have” with his “game-winning hit.” Landa walked off his team to victory on a two-RBI single. He went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run, a walk and two stolen bases.

Moore tore up the field with two runs, two walks and a stolen base.

Dace racked up two stolen bases, a run and a walk.

Soisson punched it home once, took a walk and stole a base.

Mason dominated the diamond with an RBI and a walk.

Wertich walked to first base and crossed the dish once.

Boone Alexander broke loose with a stolen base and a walk.

Evan Saltzman went up for two at-bats against Gerald.

Landa started on the mound for Dace Construction, striking out four batters.

Alexander came out of the bullpen in the top of the second, shoving it with three strikeouts.

Bayless was last in the pitching rotation and shut the door on Gerald with two K’s.

Dace Construction will play in Gerald for their final game of the season on Jun. 19 at 6 p.m.