Dempsey walk-off grand slam brings the energy

Newsome senior Even Dempsey celebrates as he heads around the bases after his walk-off grand slam put the Wolves over Bloomingdale, 6-3 in extra innings. 

By Jarrett Guthrie, Editor

DOVER – Newsome senior Evan Dempsey was looking to bring some energy to his Wolves squad that had lost three of its last four heading into Tuesday afternoon’s final pool-play game of the Saladino Tournament. And in extra innings against rival Bloomingdale, having already provided two hits, an RBI and scoring a run, Dempsey had plenty of energy left as he smashed a towering shot to right-center for a game-winning grand slam. He circled the bases to a mob of teammates awaiting him at the plate to celebrate the 6-3 victory.

The swing that ended it – Dempsey connected on a 1-1 fastball, sending it well over the wall in right-center. 

“I think that was the kind of energy we’ve needed,” Dempsey said. “Because in every big game we’ve played, we’ve left about 10 runners on base, so hopefully that one big hit is what we’ve needed to get us going.

“Coach (Dick Rohrberg) always says, ‘Somebody has to get that big hit,’ and we know how this game goes – once somebody gets one, everyone else will start, too.”

The win put the Wolves at 2-1 in pool-play, and a decisive Strawberry Crest win later in the night sends Newsome to a Saladino Gold Division semifinal showdown at Jesuit tonight at 7pm.

Click here to view our gallery of more than 70 photos from this game.

Dempsey, a Florida Gulf Coast signee, tied the game at 2-2 way back in the fifth inning with an RBI single driving in Nick Balasko. But it was how that trip on the bases ended that subtly sparked the 6-foot-3 senior, who appeared to get under a tag at third base, but was called out from the field ump behind the play.

“I really feel like I was safe, but I definitely used it,” he said. “(It made me) a little hungry, yeah.”

That out left a runner at second, one of six that the Newsome (4-4) left in scoring position in the game, but the ledger tilted decisively as the Wolves drew two walks in the home-eighth, and had the bases load after an error, before Dempsey wiped the bags clean with the game-winner.

“We are trying to get Evan to stay on the ball longer and not run out, because he wants to use his speed,” Rohrberg said. “But he’s got pop, doesn’t he? That ball was halfway up the light tower … when he stays in the zone, he’s a pretty darn good hitter.”

Bloomingdale (7-2) looked poised to take the victory with a run in the top of the eighth after Coop Hinson (3-for-3) lined his second double of the game into left and motored around to third on a Dawson Harman sac bunt, before scoring on a wild pitch. Hinson’s third inning single up-the-middle plated a pair to give the Bulls an early lead.

Coop Hinson lets out a yell after giving Bloomingdale the lead in the top of the eight. Hinson was 3-for-3, with two doubles and two RBI. 

Both teams received steady performances on the mound, where a combined seven pitchers had to deal with five total errors behind them – meaning of the game’s nine runs, only three were earned.

After three no-hit innings on Saturday (another come-from-behind victory for Newsome against Crest), Wolves junior Wade Walton would turn in four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and struck out six.

Newsome starter Wade Walton struck out six in his four innings on Tuesday.

In counter, Bloomingdale’s Eli Davidson struck out four, while holding Newsome to just one unearned run on two hits, with four K’s.

Bloomingdale starting pitcher Eli Davidson.

Brady Carroll worked 2 1/3 scoreless for the Wolves and senior Tony Marrero earned the win in relief allowing one run, but striking out three in his 1 2/3 innings of work.

“We threw three guys limited innings in the first game, so we knew we’d have everyone coming back,” Rohrberg said. “Wade did pretty well, got out of a jam we created with an error behind him, then Brady came in and did a really good job. Then Tony Marrero, who hasn’t pitched at all this year, came in and threw strikes and got people out. He gave up that run, but did a great job overall.”

Making his first appearance on the mound this season, Tony Marrero earned the win for the Wolves. 

Along with Davidson, Javier Navas-Hoyer, Drew Williams and Dawson Harman combined for nine strikeouts, but the walks late and an error spelled doom.

Bloomingdale will face Tampa Catholic at 4pm today from Strawberry Crest.

Newsome 6, #4 Bloomingdale 3 (8)

B 002|000|01 – |3|6|3
N 100|010|04 – |6|4|2
W – Marrero; L – Williams
2B – Hinson 2 (B); Spitzer (N); HR – Dempsey (N). Records – B (7-2); N (4-4).

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