Rockwood Summit Walks Off With Thier First Class 4 Championsho

Rockwood Summit won the Class 4 championship in a way that describes their entire run in the playoffs.

The Falcons trailed the entire game until the bottom of the seventh inning. On a two-and-two count, senior Eric Beisel crushed a ball deep to right field that dropped in for a hit and won the game for the Falcons, 4-3.

"We were supposed to lose four weeks ago," Beisel said with sweat dripping off his nose. "We wanted to prove everyone wrong. We had no doubt in ourselves. Everyone else had doubt in us. But our fans, our friends, us. We all believed in each other, and we knew we could do it."

Chris Lepsky pinch ran for second baseman Kyle Younger after Younger reached on an error. Lepsky ended up scoring the winning run for the Falcons.

"It felt great," Lepsky said. "I'm hoping I touched (home plate). I'm pretty sure I did. I'm just happy for the team."

The Falcons had trailed the Parkway North Vikings since the second inning, when the Vikings pulled ahead 2-1.  Catcher Garrett Taylor scored after reaching second on a double to deep right field. The batter after him, left fielder Jonathan Shanker, drove Taylor home on another double.

In the sixth, North tacked on another run to make it 3-1 when designated hitter Justin Campbell scored after reaching on a double.

Joey Schenck, the game winner, kept the Vikings in check after coming on in relief for Falcons starter Rudy May. Schenck went five innings and gave up only a run, striking out one.

With the outstanding pitching, Summit closed the gap to 3-2 in the sixth. Beisel reached on an error and later scored on third baseman Ryan Fritz's ground out.  

Then in the seventh, Summit grabbed the lead back. The Falcons loaded the bases without any outs. First baseman Brian Quasebarth walked home a run to tie the game., 3-3. Then, Beisel won it all with his single.  

"That game right there was a true testament of what this team and what our program has been about for so many years," head coach Ken Droege said. "And for our program to get this and for our community and school to get this, it just means so much. I can't put into words what it means for everybody involved. First (State championship) in school history. Unbelievable."