Sports
Bryant Family Emerges With Improbable Comeback Win Over Parmenter
Facing a 16-4 deficit, the Bryant Family oftball team delivered 13 runs over the final two and one-third innings en route to a dramatic 17-16 walk-off win over Parmenter.
Facing a 16-4 deficit, defeat glared in the eyes of the Bryant Family softball team. Instead, a furious 13-run surge over the final three innings paved the way for one of the most miraculous comeback wins in the history of the Wayco Summer Softball League.
Scott Smith’s walk-off RBI sacrifice fly with one out in the last of the seventh propelled Bryant to a dramatic 17-16 win over Parmenter in Friday night’s action at West Plain Field. With the win, the Bryant Squad improved to 5-5 while Parmenter falls to 4-6 in the fight for the sixth and final playoff spot.
“It was just an amazing comeback win and it was huge for us,’’ said Bryant Team Manager Sam Breslin. “We got off to an extremely slow start, but we never gave up, and kept fighting back. It was a tremendous team win, and hopefully we’ll be able to carry the momentum heading into the final few games of the season. In the beginning, we just weren’t on our game, and then we just caught fire.”
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Led by seven hits, Parmenter grabbed an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Brian Flynn lined a leadoff single before Brett Mordas lined a double, placing runners at the corners. Nick Hodge followed with an RBI sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Keith Meliones increased the lead to 2-0. After singles by Caleb Barnett and Eddie McCarthy, RBI singles by Teddy Bridgeman and Steve Saltzman followed en route to a four-run edge.
In the bottom of the first, Bryant would answer with three of their own, cutting the lead to 4-3. Ben Shelton and AJ Cerrone recorded singles before Payne Schoen flied to left. John Cassily launched an RBI double to left and an RBI single by Bobby McCart closed the gap within one.
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On four singles and a double, Parmenter erupted for five runs to extend the lead to 9-3 in the top of the third. Dan Hogan reached on a leadoff single before Flynn launched a towering shot that sailed into the parking lot in left for a two-run home run. Consecutive doubles by Hodge and Meliones followed by RBI groundout by Barnett handed Parmenter a six-run cushion.
Already ahead 10-4, Parmenter erupted for six additional runs in the top of the fifth en route to a commanding 16-4 edge. Flynn laced a leadoff single to left before Mordas lined a sharp double to left. Consecutive RBI singles by Melinones and Barnett followed, increasing the lead to 12-4. McCarthy lined an RBI sacrifice to left and a two-run single by Saltzman handed Parmenter a 16-4 lead.
Facing a 12-run deficit, Bryant slowly chipped away and answered with six runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.
Geoff Leard reached on a leadoff single before Payne Schoen laced a double, placing runners at the corners. Keith McGonigle followed, lining an RBI single to left. On the play, McGonigle advanced to third on a two-base error, which allowed Schoen to score from third on the errant throw. After an RBI triple to left by Mike Maccini, Shelton registered an RBI infield hit before another RBI single by Cerrone closed the double digit gap to 16-10.
On several clutch hits, Bryant continued to plug away, erupting for a five-run surge in the last of the sixth, trimming the once insurmountable lead.
Schoen lined a lead-off home run to left center before McGonigle reached safely on an infield hit. McCart laced a grounder to second, but an errant throw allowed McGonigle to score, cutting the lead to just 16-12.
RBI singles by Scott Smith, Cerrone and Sheldon managed to cut the lead to within just one at 16-15.
“When we cut the lead to one heading into the last inning, I knew that we were going to somehow pull it off and win the game,’’ said Breslin. “The guys never gave up and they hung in there until the end.”
Now trailing by just one, momentum had shifted toward Bryant, with the 12-run deficit now a distant memory.
Down to their final at bat, Bryant had managed to deliver the game winning run with only one out in the last of the seventh. After Cassily drew a walk, McGonigle beat out an infield hit, which led to the dramatics.
McCart launched an RBI double, tying the contest before Smith lined the game winning RBI sacrifice fly to right.
“It was a great game, and one we’re going to remember for a while,’’ said Breslin. “It’s a great win for the team, and once we got into our groove, then it’s tough for anyone to stop us.”
