by Bill Turner
Chris Ferguson’s slow roller with the bases loaded plated Hayes Nelson with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh as Hidden Valley came from behind to defeat William Byrd in non-district baseball Saturday afternoon at Titan Field.
Byrd had led from the outset, scoring twice in the first on a two-run homer by third baseman Timmy Meador, followed by three in the second on a bases loaded double by catcher Jo Stickney.
Hidden Valley put up fence posts in the first, second, third and sixth to narrow the Terrier advantage to 5-4.
In the Terrier seventh, Byrd looked poised to put the game away when the leadoff batter reached on an infield single. Sam Harron followed with a sharp single to center, but the lead Byrd runner was thrown out at second on the rare 8-5 putout. Titan third baseman Stephen Bernys averted further damage with a diving snag, and throw across the diamond that kept the Byrd lead at one heading to the bottom of the inning.
In their half of the seventh, Hidden Valley tied the game at 5 when Jack Moore’s double plated Joseph Bolinger, who had reached on a pinch-hit single.
Byrd would load the bases on an intentional walk, before Ferguson’s slow roller sent the sliding Nelson across the plate without a throw.
Titan relief pitcher Matt Scribner kept Byrd off the board in the last four innings with an assortment of off-speed pitches to pick up the win.
Hidden Valley improved to 9-3-1 (4-0, River Ridge District). Byrd fell to 8-7 (1-4, Blue Ridge District)
