Daniel Gonzales made a quick turnaround from struggling reliever to hero in one inning.

After loading the bases to help Langham Creek to tie the game, Gonzales hit a walkoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Lamar a 8-7 win in the first game of their Region III-5A area round playoff series Thursday night at Roy Knoblach Field.

The Redskins take a 1-0 lead in the series, which continues at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Langham Creek.

The Lobos came back from a 7-1 deficit to tie the game in the seventh. Langham Creek (24-8) scored four runs in the fourth, most coming on a three-run double by outfielder Andy Nowak to pull within 7-6.

In the seventh, Langham Creek's first three batters reached base. Leadoff hitter Ryan Sedeno walked and stole second base, infielder Codey Morehouse made to first on a strikeout as the pitch went wild, and make it to second on some heady base running. Then after hitting first baseman Max Jenkins with a pitch to load the bases, Gonzales was pulled by Lamar coach Michael McGlivray in favor of Tyler Duffie.

Duffie then faced Andrew Benak, who hit a bouncer to shortstop to start a double play, but Sedeno came in to score to tie the game. Infielder Casey Tompkins then grounded to second to end the inning.

Gonzales then ended the game on the first pitch, taking the first offering from Lobos starting pitcher Andrew Schiffner to deep center.

Lamar (25-5) started strong, scoring two runs in the first inning and four runs in the second, including a two-run homer by starting pitcher Scott Erzinger.

Subscribe to this comment's feed