Resilient Lakewood deals final blow in baseball battle with Utica
NEWARK — Hayden Ferry had earlier twice been hit by pitches Friday, but the junior used his bat to deliver the game-winning run for the Lakewood baseball team.
Ferry fought a pitch off his hands, blooping a hit over the pitcher's mound to score senior Luke Sniadach from third in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Lakewood a 5-4 victory against Utica at Don Edwards Park in Licking County League-Cardinal Division play. The Lancers (4-10, 4-5) previously beat Utica 6-4 in 10 innings on Tuesday.
"I was just thinking, 'It's going to feel real good to get this hit.' I just had to put the bat on the ball and do my job to get the team a win," Ferry said. "I am pretty sure that's my first (walk-off hit at any level), so it feels good. It was fun."
Down to its final out, Utica (7-11, 2-9) tied the game on sophomore Tyler Collura's two-run double to center in the top of the inning. The game, however, stayed tied at 4 when junior Matt Smith threw out Collura at the plate from right field on junior Jordan Hartman's following single.
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Sniadach then opened the bottom of the inning with a single. Sophomore William Marrero followed with a bunt single, and two batters later, Ferry came through in the clutch, setting off a celebration near first base as the Lancers poured out of the third-base dugout.
"I knew someone on the team was going to get the ball on the ground," Sniadach said. "Ferry just got the job done. I am proud of him for that."
Utica had opportunities to take control of the game. Freshman Ryan Bigler's RBI single cashed in one of two walks to start the game, and Sniadach from left field cut down a runner at the plate on sophomore Roman Gamble's RBI single in the fourth.
"We are getting better for every experience we are a part of, and I am really proud of our kids," Utica coach Michael Sandman said. "They are improving. The scoreboard hasn't shown it the last couple games, but they have a ton of fight in them. That's going to be a good thing for them moving forward."
Lakewood was hitless against Utica sophomore right-hander Chase Bennett until Noah Blade's RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ferry and Smith were later hit by a pitch, forcing in the tying run, and sophomore Carter Flowers reached on a bad-hop hit at third to give the Lancers a 3-2 lead.
Sophomore Tyler Bebout singled home an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Bebout, a left-hander, settled in and was one out from a complete game until Collura hit a deep drive into the night well over Flowers' head in the vast center field.
"It was nice even after a nice hit by Utica, we were able to get ourselves focused for when we were up to bat," Sniadach said. "We just got it done. It was a great game."
Gamble reached base all four times, going 3-for-3 for Utica, and six other players had a single hit. Freshman catcher Aidyn Burgess caught a runner stealing and made a barehand catch on a bunt both in the third inning before he relieved Bennett and threw 2 1/3 innings.
"We knew early on (Burgess) had the capability, but we had an injury at catcher and had to get the next guy up ready," Sandman said. "We were confident enough in (Jarrett Hill) that he was ready that we could make that move. Aidyn's going to pitch a lot of big innings for us."
Sniadach had two hits and two runs scored for the Lancers. Five players had an RBI, and every player in the lineup reached base at least once.
Bebout allowed eight hits and struck out five for Lakewood, which is becoming dangerous down the stretch. The Lancers have won four of their last six LCL games with the only defeats coming by two runs to Newark Catholic and one to Granville.
"We played some very tough opponents early for sure, and I think some of those big losses let the air out of us just a little bit, but they are competitors and are really playing hard now," said Lakewood coach Chuck Davis, who brought in Blade for relief and whose team got the final out of the inning on Smith's throw home to catcher Trey Smith.
"It definitely helps the energy, there's no doubt," Davis added. "You get a couple wins, and it's easier to play just a little bit harder."
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Resilient Lakewood deals final blow in baseball battle with Utica
