NAVARRE — Like most people I had given up Crestview High School’s baseball team for going into the seventh inning of Tuesday’s District 1-7A tournament semifinal game against Tate.
The Bulldogs trailed the Aggies 11-6, and while they had put on perhaps their best hitting display of the season, a five-run deficit seemed a little too much to ask.
I still didn’t give Crestview much of chance when Jared Gaszak had an infield hit to lead off the inning. One base runner wasn’t going to make a difference, but I know baseball and anything is possible in a game with no clock.
A game without a clock is one of the beauties of baseball. In another sport, such as football or basketball, the clock can be a team’s worst enemy as it tries to mount a comeback. Without the constraints of a clock five runs can be overcome as long as there is a batter at the plate. I’ve witnessed my share of seventh-inning rallies in high school baseball games and more than a few ninth-inning comebacks in professional games.
I won’t be forgetting the Bulldog seventh any time soon.
Crestview sent 11 batters to the plate and faced three different Tate pitchers. Seniors trying to stretch their high school careers a couple of more games stepped up big. And a group of hungry Bulldogs determined to give it their all came together in a magical inning.
By the time Crestview finished batting in the seventh the Bulldogs led 12-11. When Tate went down in order in the bottom of the seventh the victory was complete.
Gaszak was the unlikely hero of the inning with two hits, both of the infield variety and two runs batted in. Gaszak was one of those seniors fighting to extend his final season. Gaszak has been a spot starter, who has probably seen less playing time than he had hoped for, but when his number was called he was ready.
His hustle carried the day when the Bulldogs needed a spark.
An inning or at bat can be kept alive in the most basic of ways. A foul ball or two can force a pitcher into extra pitches and lead to walks. And timely hits always come in handy.
The Bulldogs had those things and a little magic Tuesday night. I’m sure it’s a game none of the players will ever forget.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DICKSON: A comeback to remember