'Something you see in the movies': Jack Batten walks it off for Streetsboro baseball

STREETSBORO — Baseball's ebbs and flows are what make it a unique sport. During the regular season, a team can manage the ups and downs knowing there is another game to play. Have a bad game, file and forget and on to the next one.

Come postseason time, however, the momentum swings can be much more stark and consequential. One bad inning can result in the end of a season, erasing a lot of positives compiled during the regular campaign.

Monday afternoon at Streetsboro's American Legion Field, there were two huge momentum turns, and fortunately for the Rockets they had just enough time to finish on a high note and continue their postseason journey.

After Girard gift-wrapped a three-run third inning to allow the Rockets to take a 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh, Streetsboro returned the favor, committing a pair of errors that led to three runs and a 4-3 Girard advantage.

With about two minutes to gather their thoughts and forget the top of the frame, the Rockets soared back and pulled out a dramatic 5-4 Division II sectional victory on Jack Batten's two-run, walk-off single to right.

"I mean, 0-for-2, the last two at-bats two strikeouts, to come back and be in that position, it was something you see in the movies," said Batten. "And then getting the hit just felt amazing."

Batten, who manned shortstop against Girard and will be Streetsboro coach Chris Scisciani's starting pitcher at Hubbard on Wednesday, talked about how the team collected itself after seeing its late lead disappear.

"That is what [happened] to us last year [in the sectional opener]," he recalled. "We were up, [Salem] came back and won. This year, we start doing the same thing [but] come back and win. [It] just shows how much we have grown as a team."

Scisciani was also having flashbacks to 12 months ago.

"It was almost like a repeat of last year. We were deep in the game and just needed to make some plays," said the 19th-year coach. "We booted the ball around a little bit and ended up losing by one run. I am glad the boys had a short memory. I was thinking of it and then when they went up 4-3, I just wanted these guys to battle like they always do, and they did. I am so happy for these guys and the seniors. They get to keep playing. I am definitely excited about Wednesday."

Girard starter Cameron Herrick pitched the first six innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He also fanned 12 and walked six as his pitch total skyrocketed.

Dom Tolone came on to pitch the seventh and proceeded to walk Brett Epple on four pitches. Jack Pincoe, who got the complete-game victory for the Rockets, ripped a single to center to position runners at first and second. Three pitches later, Epple and Pincoe executed a double steal to give Batten a great chance to be the hero. He delivered moments later.

"I was looking for a fastball anywhere," Batten said. "Just do damage and put it in play, get one home at least."

When the ball left Batten's bat, there was no doubt the game was going to end. It was just a matter of whether the ball would stay within the confines of American Legion Field. The ball eventually nestled at the base of the wall as the Rockets (11-6) celebrated.

"It feels great," said the junior. "We didn't get to do it last year. We were pretty good, almost as talented as this year. To be able to move on this year just shows how we have grown, talent-wise and (in terms) of maturity."

After yielding a first-inning run on two hits, Pincoe settled down nicely and was cruising along until the seventh.

Girard's Santino Barone reached via an error to start the frame and moved up on Tyler Wilson's single. Joe Marsco then laid down a sacrifice bunt that Streetsboro catcher Braden Craft bounced on. However, his throw to first could not be handled and the ball went into right field. Barone and Wilson scampered home to tie the score and Marsco made his way to third with the go-ahead run.

Scisciani thought that Marsco may have run out of the baseline and spoke to the home plate umpire about it. The call was upheld and the next batter, Will Hynes, drove in Marsco with a single to push Girard ahead and stun the home team and crowd in the process.

The Rockets earlier committed a pair of two-out miscues in the fifth but Pincoe induced a fly ball to end the threat. Despite the defensive lapses, Pincoe never lost faith in the guys behind him.

"We had some errors, but we have had the motto 'team over me' all season, and that is exactly what these boys did tonight," Pincoe said. "I have faith in my defense and I knew we were going to come up big in that last inning."

Pincoe allowed four runs on five hits while fanning three and not walking a batter over seven innings.

Streetsboro freshman Brady Long had two hits, including a double that started the Rockets' three-run third inning. Craft followed with a walk, and Scott Wilson loaded the bases via a fielder's choice.

Epple worked the count to 3-0 before walking on five pitches to force in a run to tie the contest. A Herrick wild pitch scored plated Craft with the go-ahead tally and Pincoe followed with a sacrifice fly to right to drive in Wilson to extend the lead to 3-1.

"I told the boys (recently), 'Guys, you just need to put the ball in play and do what you need to do and have quality at-bats,'" said Scisciani of his team's approach at the plate. "We can score runs without getting hits — sac fly, passed ball, etc. We struck out way too much today."

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Jack Batten's walk-off hit lifts Streetsboro baseball to sectional win