Blair edges out Knights

MAY 9, BLAZER STADIUM-

The winning run in the Blazers' 8-7 victory over the Wheaton Knights this game was unexpected and anticlimactic to say the least. Yet despite the fact that Blair waited until there were two outs in the seventh inning to clinch its victory over a weak Wheaton squad, it was a victory nonetheless, and one in which the efforts of many contributed to a solid result.

Junior Sam Morris, who accounted for the Blazers' eighth and winning run, scored off of a balk by the Wheaton pitcher in the bottom of the seventh, after both teams traded the lead back and forth throughout the game. This was an unusual outcome for a game which was dominated in a large part by power hitting, senior Cody Simpson's triple to drive in three in the sixth included. With his hit, Simpson saved Blair from heading into the seventh down by four. Despite strong offense, crucial errors in the field kept the Blazers from getting the blow-out win they deserved.

Junior Max Epstein started on the mound and, though he faced some control problems until he was replaced with junior Tommy Dugan in the fourth, managed to hold his own, striking out a batter. Blair got on the scoreboard early as Morris, the lead-off batter, reached on a walk and after stealing second scored off of a hit into right field by Simpson. Senior Justin Roman, following Morris on the base-paths, scored on a pop-up into center by fellow senior Chris Madert. Morris would score again after stealing home in the bottom of the second.

Wheaton did their biggest damage in the bottom of the third, when they scored four runs, two of which were driven in by a Wheaton batter who slammed a grounder to third which took a tough bounce through the outstretched hands of Madert.

In the top of the fifth, Wheaton added to their lead after a base hit scored one runner and a short centerfield ball drove in one more. Madert was forced to make a quick throw to first after dropping a grounder in order to end the inning without further damage.

In the bottom of the sixth, Blair stepped up to the plate ready to hit, and they did just that. Simpson's triple scored three runners, and a sacrifice fly by Madert scored Simpson. These runs tied up the score, putting the Blazers in a do-or-die situation in the bottom of the seventh after shutting out Wheaton in the top.

With two outs in the seventh and Dugan at bat, Morris broke for third, which upset the Wheaton pitcher's rhythm and forced him into a balk, after which Morris crossed the plate to the cheers of his teammates and Blair's fans.