After scoring ten runs Tuesday night against New Haven, the Heritage Patriots entered the bottom of the seventh Thursday against the South Side Archers with a scoreboard full of goose eggs.
After Thomson Keppel and Landon Lybarger held the visitors to just one hit, the home team had a chance to walk it off and Andrew Mirelez did it in a rather unconventional way.
A single to right by Nolan Hoskins, his second hit of the game, started the inning off and set up Max Mirelez for a bunt opportunity to move the winning run into scoring position. The sophomore not only moved the runner over, but also reached himself on a perfect bunt.
That forced the South Side coaches to intentionally walk Mason Abbott to load the bases and leave a force at any base with the infield in.
Andrew Mirelez was the next man up and with the bases loaded, he was hit by a pitch for a unique ending to the contest. The win put the Patriots at 2-0 heading into their Spring Break next week.
Caleb Abbott had two hits for the Patriots and was in the on-deck circle when Mirelez was plunked.
Keppel started the game for coach Lehrman and allowed just one single while walking three. He struck out six.
Lybarger entered the game in the fifth and struck out four in three innings of work, allowing just one single and two walks.
The Patriots will host Van Wert next Thursday on a game on WZBD.
