By Steve Krah
PBR Indiana Correspondent

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SOUTH BEND — The 50th IHSAA state baseball tournament got started in exciting fashion in these parts Wednesday, May 25.

By scoring with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, South Bend Riley edged Michigan City 7-6 in the opener of the Class 4A South Bend Clay Sectional baseball tournament.

The Wildcats (10-13) loaded the bases in the seventh. The winning run was scored by junior Ricky Davila (on base by error) when Michigan City mishandled a ball off the bat of junior Nic Jerue.

“In the tournament, you’ll take them any way you can get them,” Riley coach Greg Harris said after a game that saw Michigan City lead 4-1 early. “We’ve had times this year where we’ve struggled putting it in play and that makes it easy for the other team. We always tell them if you battle and put it in play and they have to make a play, good things can happen.”

Led by senior Zack Overton (3 hits, 2 runs, 2 RBI), senior Trevor Backstrom (3 hits, 1 run, 1 RBI), senior Ty Richard (2 hits, 2 runs) and junior Tyler Melser (2 hits, 1 RBI), Riley rapped out 12 hits against two Wolves pitchers — senior right-hander Ryan Smith (3 innings, 5 runs, 8 hits, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk) and freshman left-hander Bryce Hayman (Loss; 3 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 2 strikeouts, 2 walks). 

“He’s been one of our top pitchers all year,” Michigan City coach Josh Malone said of Hayman. “He did a nice job. He didn’t let anything affect him.”

“We tried to keep battling square balls up and see what happens,” Harris said. “It worked out for us.”

Michigan City slugged right back with eight hits, paced by Smith (2 hits, 2 runs), sophomore Dominic Iacovetti (2 hits, 1 run, 1 RBI) and Hayman (1 hit, 1 run, 2 RBI) against Wildcats senior right-hander Mason Kendall (7 innings, 6 runs, 8 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 walk).

“We stayed focused and we never got down,” Harris said. “I’m extremely excited for this group of young men.”

The contest featured nine errors —  five for Riley — but the Cats came up with a crucial defensive gem in the sixth inning.

With two Wolves on base, Riley right fielder Overton made an inning-ending diving catch at the warning track to take extra bases away from Iacovetti.

“That was the turning point,” Michigan City coach Josh Malone, whose club finished the 2016 season at 7-20. “We would have scored two runs and probably win the game.

“The kids hit the ball well and did a nice job of getting runs across. In the latter innings, we hit a lot of line drives at guys.”

The Wolves opened the scoring in the top of the first with senior Hunter Williams doubling to left and scoring on junior Brent Barton’s single to right.

Michigan City got three more runs in the second inning with Hayman socking a two-run double to right and later scoring on an error.

Riley scored one run in the second when Jerue singled home Overton (on by bunt single). 

A run-scoring double to center by Iavocetti in the third inning put the Wolves up 5-1.

Inn the bottom of the third inning, the Cats quickly loaded the bases then had two straight strikeouts before putting up four runs. 

Overton smacked a two-run single to center and Melser an RBI double to left while the other run scored on a wild pitch and the score was knotted at 5-all.

Riley went ahead 6-5 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Richard reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on a double to left by Backstrom.

Michigan City forged a 6-6 tie with a run in the top of the fifth inning.

Smith was hit by a pitch and wound up scoring on a sacrifice fly lofted by senior Brendan Kiley.

The sectional resumes Thursday, May 26 with LaPorte playing South Bend Adams at 5 p.m., followed by Clay against Mishwaka. On Saturday, the semifinals feature Riley against Plymouth at 11 a.m., followed by Thursday’s winner. The championship is slated for 7 p.m. Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day).