GRANGER — Woodward-Granger junior Pacey Moats had a star-turn awaiting him, a situation all young baseball players have dreamed of since they were little boys.
Tie game. Bottom of the seventh (or ninth, if you prefer). Bases loaded. Time for the big game-winning hit. Or not.
Moats coolly made sure he did nothing to help Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont during his big moment, calmly watching as ball four sent him trotting to first base as Bryce Achenbach was forced home to win the game.
The bases-on-balls gave W-G skipper Eric Evans a win over his alma mater, with former W-G coach Tom Hallgren taking the loss in the Rocket dugout.
W-G improved to 20-7 overall with the win, topping their victory total from last season. E-B-F fell to 17-10 with the setback.
Reese Jamison had doubled and scored in the first inning as the hosts seized a 1-0 lead. The score remained unchanged until the Rockets touched the plate once in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for Moats’ to eventually win the game with a display of patience.
Jamison and Moats also hit singles in the win, as did Achenbach and Trevor Simmons.
Alex Bice allowed a hit and a walk while striking out five in 4-2/3 innings of work. Brandon Worley won in relief, yielding a run on a hit and four walks while striking out two.
W-G will conclude their regular season next week with a pair of home games. The Hawks host Roland-Story Tuesday and West Marshall Thursday.
