Perry jumped to a big early lead, fell into a big hole, and finally emerged with a big win Wednesday as the regular and Raccoon River Conference season came to an end against Winterset at Progressive Field.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
The 17-1 Bluejay victory came in the final home game for retiring veteran head coach Mike Long, who is stepping down after 41 years in the Perry dugout. The win was career victory 720 for Long, who was presented with a framed jersey bearing his number, 2, before the game.
Also honored were seniors Gavin Boyer, Austin Carpenter and Aaron Lockwood, all of who had key roles in Perry’s hard-fought win.
Perry (9-11, 8-5) countered a Winterset (16-10, 6-7) run in the top of the first with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Two additional runs in the second pushed the lead to 5-1, but the Huskies scored three times in the third and once more in the fifth to knot the score at 5-all.
The Huskies, who had defeated the Jays, 12-4, earlier in the season, threatened to run off with the win by scoring five times in the top of the fifth to open a 10-5 lead.
The Bluejays rallied, using a trio of consecutive walks and two clutch hits to score eight runs in a wild turn at-bat and seize a 13-10 advantage.
Winterset closed to within 13-11 by scoring once in the top of the sixth, but Perry was not done, adding four final runs in the bottom of the stanza to set the final tally.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Eric Shortt went 1-2/3 in the start for the visitors, with Conner Van Pelt tossing 3-2/3 of middle relief while Brady Porter recorded the final two outs.
Van Pelt drove in three runs with a home run and a double while scoring three times. Easton Holder and Porter each had one double and one single to help power the visitors.
Perry was aided by drawing nine walks and being hit by three pitches while recording eight hits.
Boyer had a single, a walk and a was hit by a pitch. He drove in two runs, and his courtesy runner, brother Kaden Boyer, scored three times. Lockwood had three hits and a RBI, with Carpenter twice hit by pitches, twice providing RBI sacrifices and scoring twice as the Perry seniors helped secure the win.
Kaleb Olejniczak had two single and a walk while stealing a base, scoring three times and driving in two runs. Kate Dougan and a two-run double, with Avery Meister adding a RBI-single and a walk to help highlight the Perry offense.
Perry opens postseason play with a visit to Webster City (16-5) Friday. The 5 p.m. game pits Clear Lake (20-12) against Humboldt (17-14), with the Bluejays and Lynx to battle in the 7 p.m. game. The winners will return to Webster City for a 7 p.m. contest Monday.
