The game was locked at four runs heading into the final inning, Har-Ber’s Preston Cash stepped to the dish looking to deliver with two on.

Veterans Park, the home of the Rogers Mounties (6-7, 1-3), hosted a pair of down-to-the-wire games on the night of March 30 between the home team and the Wildcats (8-7, 1-3).

In the opening game, Har-Ber dug themselves a 1-6 hole that couldn’t be recovered from, after going cold in the first four innings. 

“We had troubles at the plate at the beginning of the game, and then we finally started hitting the ball, but the ball just never found a hole.  We just struggled at the plate.  Plain and simple,” said outfielder Brandon Jansen.

It wasn’t as if the Wildcats didn’t have their chances, as Har-Ber left nine runners on base invcluding three in the seventh with two outs to go. 

 Junior Preston Pianalto (2-2) started on the mound, and then junior Justin Cox came on in relief for the Wildcats who blanked the Mounties in the fifth and sixth. The Cats still came up 90 feet short.  Pianalto picked up the loss.

“Pianalto pitched three and a third, then I came in and gave up one. I didn’t take the loss, but if I hadn’t given up the run, we would have had a chance to win in extras,” said Cox.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Har-Ber’s pitchers dropped runs early once again as Rogers opened up a 4-0 lead heading into the fifth.

By time Pianalto came to the plate in the fifth, ducks were on the pond, and he unleashed with a two-out, three-run double to ignite the Cats.

After two early base runners reached for Har-Ber, Cash gave the Wildcats a 7-4 lead on one swing of the bat. 

Andrew Crook got the win and Har-Ber split the series one all, with a 9-4 victory.

“We did really good in the field and at the plate.  At the beginning of the game we couldn’t get anything to fall, but our bats warmed up towards the end of the game and we came back from a 4-0 deficit,” said Jansen, who finished with three singles, a triple, and a walk on the night.