Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

DEFIANCE - Two-out drama and a blowout took place at Defiance's Booster Field on Thursday during the Division III district semifinals.

After Genoa run-ruled Sherwood Fairview 13-1 in six innings, Metamora Evergreen provided the biggest excitement of the evening with stunning comeback win over Woodmore 11-10 in eight innings.

Trailing 8-4 with two outs and the bases empty, the Vikings managed to pull off a miracle, helped out by a pair of Woodmore errors.

An Alex Regan walk and Jamie Wright double were followed by a pair of Woodmore miscues pulling Evergreen within 8-6. Kyle Brighton and Dylan Henricks then hit RBI singles to even the game.

In the eighth, the magic continued when the Vikings scored three runs with two away. Kyle Kern-Blystone ripped a three-bagger with one down and, an out later, Regan's run-scoring single put Evergreen ahead 9-8. The Vikings added another run on a passed ball and a third on a Jake Dowling RBI single.

All were needed when Woodmore tallied two in the bottom of the eighth on a double by Zach Brossia. But Evergreen (19-7) held on to advance to Saturday's district final against Genoa.

While Evergreen needed four runs in the seventh to stay alive, the Comets of Genoa scored four in the top of the first to take control and cruised to the district semifinal win.

Genoa, which does not have a senior on its roster, had hits from every player but one in the starting lineup. An RBI single by Nick Wolfe and a two-run double by Tyler Rozek keyed the first inning for the Comets.

Genoa added three runs in the third inning off Fairview sophomore starting pitcher Joe Macsay, featuring a single by Alex Hayes.

A five-run sixth put the game away with Rozek adding another two-run double.

The three-four-five hitters in the Genoa lineup (Hayes, Wolfe and Jake Wojciechowski) combined for seven hits and 10 runs which was more than enough for starting pitcher Luke Rightnowar.

The sophomore right-hander gave up just five hits and three walks in going the distance to improve his season record to 8-0.

Sophomore catcher Brett Dietrich hit a single and double and drove in the lone run for the Apaches, which had won nine in a row coming in.

LINESCORES

Genoa 403 015 - 13 15 1

Fairview 100 000 - 1 5 2

Records: Genoa 17-9, Fairview 14-10.

Winning pitcher: Luke Rightnowar (6 innings, 1 run, 5 hits, 2 strikeouts, 3 walks).

Losing pitcher: Joe Macsay (2 innings, 6 runs, 7 hits, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk). Others: Kody King, Kyle Thomas, Jared Elchinger.

Leading hitters: (Genoa, 15 hits) - Alex Hayes single, home run, 3 runs; Nick Wolfe 3 singles, 3 runs; Jake Wojciechowski single, double, 4 runs; Tyler Rozek 2 doubles, 4 RBIs; Matt Aumiller 2 singles; Logan Scott 2 singles. (Fairview, 5 hits) - Zach Collins double; Brett Dietrich single, double; Erich Wolfrum 2 singles.

Evergreen 002 110 43 - 11 9 4

Woodmore 310 040 02 - 10 10 3

Records: Evergreen 19-7, Woodmore 10-12.

Winning pitcher: Jamie Wright.

Losing pitcher: Evan Ulinski.

Leading hitters: (Evergreen, 9 hits) - Jamie Wright single, double; Kyle Kern-Blystone triple; Dylan Henricks 2 singles; Jake Dowling 2 singles. (Woodmore, 10 hits) - Logan Fonseca single, double, triple; Zach Brossia single, double; Erich Greulich double.