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Hornell rallies by Waterloo with walk-off win, punches ticket to Section V finals

the spectator
·2 min read

HORNELL — The Red Raiders have displayed a flair for the dramatic this postseason.

The comeback kids were at it again Wednesday in the Section V semifinals, rallying from a 4-1 deficit with a 6-5 walk-off win over Waterloo that punched Hornell’s ticket to Saturday’s championship game.

It was the second straight 6-5 walk-off win for the Red Raiders, who knocked out Batavia in identical fashion Monday at Maple City Park.

Hornell centerfielder Gates Miller takes flight as he dives safely into home to score a run Wednesday as the Red Raiders advanced to the Class B1 finals against Pal-Mac Saturday afternoon in Batavia.
Hornell centerfielder Gates Miller takes flight as he dives safely into home to score a run Wednesday as the Red Raiders advanced to the Class B1 finals against Pal-Mac Saturday afternoon in Batavia.

On Wednesday it was Shawn Rose’s turn to shine. The senior captain lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to drive in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hornell trailed 5-4 and was down to its final three outs before coming through with a pair of runs to win in dramatic fashion once again.

Hornell plated a run in the bottom of the first inning when Gennaro Picco singled on a 1-1 count to drive in a run. Waterloo then scored four in the fourth to take control. The Red Raiders got two runs back in the fifth inning, and then both teams scored a run in the sixth to set the stage for Hornell’s walk-off win.

Hornell starting pitcher Andrew Davis drives a pitch to the plate Wednesday evening as the Red Raiders completed a comeback walk-off win over the Waterloo Tigers 6-5 to advance to the Section V finals Saturday afternoon. Davis finished the game with seven strikeouts in a complete game effort.
Hornell starting pitcher Andrew Davis drives a pitch to the plate Wednesday evening as the Red Raiders completed a comeback walk-off win over the Waterloo Tigers 6-5 to advance to the Section V finals Saturday afternoon. Davis finished the game with seven strikeouts in a complete game effort.

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Andy Davis went the distance on the mound for Hornell. Davis allowed three earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking just a pair in the victory over No. 8 Waterloo, which upset No. 1 Geneva in the quarterfinals.

Gates Miller led the Hornell offense with two hits, including a double, plus a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Charlie Oyer also knocked two hits and scored a run. Picco, Wyatt Argentieri and Jake Ponticello all had a hit and an RBI, with Picco and Ponticello scoring a run apiece.

Shawn Rose lets the ball fly to first base for the first out of the fifth inning as Hornell got past visiting Waterloo Wednesday in the Section V semifinals.
Shawn Rose lets the ball fly to first base for the first out of the fifth inning as Hornell got past visiting Waterloo Wednesday in the Section V semifinals.

Davis helped his cause with a hit and a run scored.

The Red Raiders advanced to face Pal-Mac in Saturday’s Section V championship game scheduled in Batavia.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Hornell rallies by Waterloo with walk-off win in Section V semifinals