Charland steady as Sumner tops Wharton in extras
By Brett Goodrich, Correspondent
RIVERIVEW – In a thrilling eight-inning affair, Sumner scored five unanswered runs in the last four frames to claim a 7-6 win against Wharton.
Wharton held a three-run lead when the Stingrays called on junior Avery Charland to pitch from the fifth inning on. Charland, in his four innings of work gave up one unearned run, allowed three hits, two walks while striking out three in his relief win. Pitching to contact, Charland was able to get through his outing while only throwing 50 pitches, which was helped by a pair of double plays, one in the sixth and the other in the eighth.
With Charland doing his work on the mound, Sumner (8-3) fought back tying the game in the home-seventh and winning with some small ball from senior Vince Diballa.
However, despite the late (and extra) inning comeback, the game did not get off to a good start for Stingrays starting pitcher Landon Wilder could only make it through two thirds of an inning.
Wharton (3-7) got ahead early as junior Daniel Munoz and backstop Chase Anello drew bases loaded walks, Jariel Garriga singled in a third run in the opening frame.
Sumner sophomore Sebastian Peralta cut back a little, connecting for a moonshot home run, the first of his high school career, that cleared the monster in left field.
Wharton’s Justis Meadows lined a single to left to start the second, and moved to third on a hit-and-run single for Dylan Klinger putting runners on the corner. A passed ball allowed Meadows to score the fourth Wildcats run, and Jaylen Martin (who had walked, and stole a base) in the next inning scoring on an RBI single into right from David Ascano to stretch the lead to four runs.
In the home- fourth sophomore Luke Parson manufactured a run for the Stingrays, lining a single to right field, and stealing second base. After Wharton retired the eight-hole hitter on strikes, the Wildcats catcher attempted to back-pick Parson at second. Anticipating the throw, Parson took off for third, the shortstop caught the ball, turned and fired to third base, but an errant throw allowed Parson to score the second Stingray run.
Parsons would again come through in the fifth with one out, hitting a two hopper to the third baseman, who short armed the ball, resulting in a throwing error, that short hopped the first baseman. Diballa then scorched a double that one-hopped the left field fence, plating Parson. After an infield single by Ethan Dejesus, senior Brenden Rodriguez, hit a ball hard towards the Wildcat third baseman, which went right through his five hole, allowing Diballa to score the fifth run for Sumner.
Down one run entering the seventh, the Stingrays were able to play small ball to tie the game and send it to extras. Peralta led off the inning with a single. He was able to advance on a well-executed bunt by clean-up hitter, Jesse Robelo. After a balk by the Wildcats pitcher, Sumner junior, Riley Stevens was able to land a ball in shallow right field, plating the tying run.
From there, Charland was able to retire the Wildcats in order, setting the scene for the walk-off win. Parson drew a lead-off walk, Diballa stood in the box with a 1-2 count, where he squared to bunt after missing two previous attempts. This time, he got the bunt down between the mound and the plate. Wharton pitcher Anthony Arroyo picked up the ball, spun toward second to make a play; however, realizing there was no play there, he changed his mind and went to first. The Wildcats reliever never reset his feet and sailed the ball down the right field line allowing Parson to come around and score from first base, giving Sumner their eighth win of the season.
In the loss, Wharton Freshman Jeremiah Brown went 2-4 with a run, and starting pitcher Caden Long went five innings, allowing three and struck out six.
⚾⚾⚾⚾
Sumner 7, Wharton 6 (8)
W 310|110|00 – |6|7|5
S 100|112|11 – |7|6|0
W – Charland; L – Arroyo
2B – Diballa (S); HR – Peralta (S). Records – W (3-7); S (8-3).
