Mahomet-Seymour’s Dramatic Comeback: Bailey’s Grand Slam Secures Victory in Apollo Conference Opener
By FRED KRONER
Mahomet-Seymour Baseball
Mahomet-Seymour was on the verge of a loss on Saturday (April 6) in its Apollo Conference baseball opener at Effingham.
For 6 2/3 innings, the Bulldogs had not scored a run.
With two outs in the top of the seventh and final inning, junior outfielder Gavin Bailey was at the plate. The bases were loaded, and he faced a full-count pitch which could potentially end the game.
Instead, Bailey pounded a grand slam home run and – when Cade Starrick pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh – M-S had salvaged a 4-3 win.
The Bulldog comeback started with players at the bottom of the batting order.
Miles Woolsey and Noah Butler – the No. 8 and No. 9 hitters, respectively – reached base before leadoff batter Camden Heinold created a base-loaded situation.
Bailey, who already had one hit and one stolen base in the game, completed the M-S rally with his first home run of the season.
Starrick pitched the final two innings in relief of Maston Orton. Starrick allowed one hit and walked no one. He struck out four batters.
In five innings, Orton allowed five hits and three walks. He fanned seven.
The Bulldogs needed no dramatics in the nightcap, gaining the lead early and cruising to a 12-1 victory.
Finn Randolph (3-0) pitched all five innings. He scattered three hits and issued one walk. Randolph struck out three hitters.
Bailey, Butler, Tyson Finch and Raymond Long all stroked two hits for M-S.
Scoring two runs apiece were Bailey, Butler, Finch, Heinold and Matthew Orr.
Butler and Starrick both delivered two RBI.
For the doubleheader, Bailey, Heinold and Randolph all stole two bases.
Collecting hits in both of the conference games were Heinold, Randolph, Bailey, Long and Butler.
M-S (8-3) returns to action on Wednesday (April 10) at Oakwood.
