South Walton pulls out 7-6 win over Bozeman

With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, South Walton’s Tyler Holland ripped a single to left to drive in Aiden Keenan from second for a 7-6 win over the visiting Bozeman Bucks of Panama City Thursday night.

“We battled back and scrapped tonight,” said South Walton Coach Nick Borthwick.

In the seventh with one out, South Walton’s Hunter Crawley hit a single up the middle but was thrown out at second when Aiden Keenan hit a fielder's choice to the Bozeman shortstop. Up next, Kyle Vogler singled to left to put runners at first and second with two outs.

Holland, a senior at South Walton, nailed a hit between third and short to drive in Keenan for the win.

“You’ve got to tip your hat to the guys that came in and had some big hits,” Borthwick said. “Tyler Holland had a big hit and Kyle Vogler with a big hit to extend the seventh … then a walk off win. We’ll take it.”

Earlier in the game the Seahawks fell behind early with Bozeman putting up four runs in the second inning. Ryan Harvey singled in a couple of runs, while the other two were unearned on walks.

In the bottom of the third, South Walton tied the game up. Lead-off hitter Austin Garofalo, who finished the night four-for-four, blasted a bomb over the centerfield fence for a solo shot. Harris Barton followed with a single to right and then Chase Miles doubled to left. The next Seahawk grounded out. Matthew Raya and Crawley both walked to force in a run. Keenan then stepped up and drilled a shot down the third baseline to bring in two runs for a 4-4 game.

In the fourth, the Seahawks took the lead with two runs. Holland walked and Garofalo put down a bunt single. Barton hit a sacrifice fly deep to center to score Holland. Garofalo got caught off third but managed to work his way out a rundown and slid in home for a 6-4 game.

Bozeman evened the score in the top of the fifth on a couple of hits from Noah Gustason and Grant Hathaway.

South Walton got runners on base in the fifth and sixth innings, but couldn’t get one home.

In the seventh, the Seahawks pulled out a walk-off win with hits from their No. 8 and No. 9 in the lineup.

“I just challenged the team to play a little tougher. They need to come out and play hard from the get go,” Borthwick said, after huddling up his team after the game.

Manning the mound for South Walton were Cade Watson and Cole Varner. Watson pitched four innings, struck out four, walked four and gave up four hits. Varner finished up the last three with three strike outs, three hits and one walk.

With the win the Seahawks move to 5-1-1 on the season.