Written by Ethan Silverman

Kirkwood, MO: Vianney outslugged Rockwood Summit 11-10, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning and capturing the Class 4, District 3 championship. Home runs by Jake Walters, JackKlages (right), and Ryan Snyder powered the Griffin offense.

Rockwood Summit played small ball in the first, generating two runs and taking an early 2-0 lead. Leadoff batter Clayton Evans led the game off with a single, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dustin Myers. A RBI single by Brendan Coleman drove in Evans from second. With Coleman on first, Kyle Younger laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing Coleman to second. Brian Quasbarth delivered an RBI single scoring Coleman.

Vianney wasted no time tying the game up at 2-2. Leadoff hitter Clayton Pfeiffer lead off with a single, bringing up Jake Walters. Walters smashed a fastball over the left center field fence for a two run homerun, his fifth round tripper of the season.

In the top of the second, the first two Summit batters reached base. Rudy May drew a walk, followed by Chris Lepsky reaching on an error. Clayton Evan picked up his second hit in two innings, a two RBI double putting Summit up 4-2. Summit would pick up another run in the top of the third inning, after Brendan Coleman?s double and coming around to score from second on an error, extending the lead to 5-2.

Clayton Pfeiffer got things started in the bottom of the fifth with a single, followed by a Jake Walters walk. Both runners would advance on an error, and Ryan Snyder would take advantage, with a sacrifice fly scoring Pfeiffer and cutting the lead to 5-3. Zach Kneese would come through next with an RBI double, scoring Walters and closing the gap to 5-4.

Vianney would take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth. A leadoff walk to Petey Spradlin brought Jack Klages to the plate. Klages would deliver a two run home run to right field, putting Vianney up 6-5.

The see saw battle continued in the top of the fifth. Clayton Evans, who was a perfect 4-for-4 on the game, led off with another single. Playing small ball once again, Dustin Myers sacrifice bunt advanced Evans to second. Brendon Coleman and Kyle Younger drew back to back walks to load the bases. Summit would tie the game at 6-6 when Vianney left fielder misplayed a shallow fly ball, allowing Evans to cross the plate. Dan Hanks then delivered a two out two RBI double, putting Summit up 8-6.

Vianney would get one run back in the bottom half of the fifth off of Ryan Snyder?s team leading eight homerun, a solo shot, trimming Summit?s lead to 8-7.

The scoring continued in the top of the sixth. Clayton Evans smacked his third single of the game and advanced to second on Dustin Myer?s single to left field. Brendon Coleman, who went 3-for-4, and Kyle Younger delivered consecutive RBI singles, putting Summit up 10-7.

Vianney would score the next four runs, leading to a 11-10 victory. In the bottom of the sixth, Jack Klages doubled to left center, and advanced to third on an error on the throw back to the infield. Nick Ulrich came through with his first hit of the game, an RBI double scoring courtesy runner Dominic Mueller and shrinking Summit?s lead to 10-8. Ulrich would advance to third on Clayton Pfeiffer?s groundout. Jake Walters came through in the clutch with an RBI single to left field, driving in Ulrich and cutting the score to 10-9. Ryan Barnes and Ryan Snyder would both walk, loading the bases. Zach Kneese?s fielder?s choice groundout allowed Walters to score, tying the game at 10-10.

In dramatic fashion, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Nick Ulrich singled and stole second base. Clayton Pfeiffer was then hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second. Once again in a clutch situation, Jake Walters singled past the Summit third baseman and Ulrich would come around to score the game winning run when the Summit leftfielder bobbled the ball.

?I have been telling the boys all season long that sometimes you need to find a way to win a ballgame,? said Vianney head coach Scott Brown. ?We did some things when we needed to do to put us in a position to win.?