Mustangs Nearly Make Most of Second Chance

ABERDEEN, Md., May 24 -- One day after being reinstated to the playoffs because its previous opponent had to forfeit, Marriotts Ridge was three outs from winning the first team state championship in the school's brief history.

Protecting a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, however, there was "a lot more pressure," pitcher Stephen Blucher said. And the Mustangs, who had taken the lead with a spirited three-run rally in the sixth, were unable to close things out.

The tying run scored on a wild pitch with one out, and then Lingan Sweeney's squeeze bunt scored Joey Kirby to lift Kent Island to a 6-5 victory in the Maryland 2A final Saturday at Ripken Stadium.

"When we came back, it was like we're meant to win this," said center fielder Kevin Seker, who had an RBI double and scored as the Mustangs took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning. "We just came up short today."

It was a day the Mustangs (18-6) never thought they would see after losing to South Hagerstown, 14-10, in Wednesday's semifinals. The players turned in their uniforms that night, and the seniors graduated on Thursday night.

"Gosh, high school was over," Seker said. "Then we got the call the next day."

Because South Hagerstown's pitcher had thrown 15 innings over seven days -- one more than state rules allow -- it had to forfeit. Marriotts Ridge was back in the playoffs.

The Mustangs, who last year lost in the 1A semifinals in their first season playing varsity, fell behind 2-0 and 4-2, but rallied each time. Blucher, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during basketball season and did not play until the regular season's final game, entered in the fifth and sent down Kent Island (16-8) in order in the sixth.

By that point, Seker's double had brought home Mitchell Smith to make it 4-3. Then, with the bases loaded, designated hitter Dan Myers's single up the middle scored two more runs for a 5-4 lead.

However, Coach Paul Eckert was aware how hard it would be to close the game. The two previous state finals each were decided in the last at-bat, including the 1A title game earlier Saturday when St. Michaels scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to beat Harford Tech, 4-3.

"It's always difficult to get those last three outs," Eckert said. "The kids are all excited. It's awfully tough."

Leadoff batter Devin Gardner walked, and Kirby walked. After a strikeout, two wild pitches brought home Gardner and put Kirby on third. Marriotts Ridge intentionally walked two batters to set up a force at any base, but Sweeney's hard bunt on an 0-1 pitch was successful.

"It just happened so fast," Blucher said. "Before I realized it, the game was over."