Deerfield-Windsor storms back from 9-run deficit to beat Westfield

ALBANY — Prospects looked bleak for Deerfield-Windsor when Westfield plated nine runs in the top of the first inning. But the Knights shut down Westfield the rest of the way while scoring 16 unanswered runs of their own en route to a 16-9 come-from-behind victory.

“Both teams are sandwiched between region games, so you’re going to throw in a lot of pitchers,” Deerfield-Windsor head coach Jonathan Davis said. “We knew even though we got down early that if we continued to chip away and get good at bats, we had a good chance to get back in the game because we felt pretty solid about our backend pitching.”

The Hornets jumped all over Deerfield-Windsor starting pitcher Brett Rigsby, who walked three and allowed six runners to cross the plate. After he was relieved by Tanner Ford, the Hornets scored three more runs before the first inning closed out.

The Knights got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the first. With one out, Steven Williams doubled and John Samuel Shenker singled. Ryan Toole later drove Williams in with a sacrifice fly.

The Knights bats came to life in the second inning, which started slowly. With with no one base and two outs already record, Chandler Matthews reached first on a throwing error by Westfield pitcher Hunter Teston. Charles Crosby tripled, plating Matthews, then scored on Steven Williams’ single.

Williams moved to second on a wild pitch. Shenker drew a walk and Toole was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Landon Brettel, who walked to force in Williams for the third run. Howell Logan then singled, driving in two, and cutting the deficit to three.

The two-out flurry prompted Westfield to make a pitching change, with John Walker Moore taking the mound with two on and two out. The inning closed when Logan was caught on a stealing attempt.

The Knights threatened in the bottom of the third, but Chris Boswell was caught in a run down and thrown out at the plate to end the stanza.

The Knights weren’t done, though. Deerfield-Windsor tallied a half-dozen runs in the fourth to take a 12-9 lead. Shenker doubled, then Ryan Toole reached on a single. Antonio Watts, pinch-running for Ryan Toole, swiped second. Shenker scored on a Hornets wild pitch with Watts moving up. After Brettel walked, Logan singled, driving in the 8th run. Boswell doubled, driving in Brettel to tie the score.

After Corey Toole walked, Crosby was hit by a pitch, scoring the go-ahead run. Then Williams singled, driving in two more runs to give the Knights a three-run lead.

“We started being really patient with our at bats and started having good approaches,” Steven Williams said. “Getting down early, it was pretty good for us to fight over that adversity and come back.” Williams led the Knights’ offensive attack by going 3-for-4 with a double, two singles and 3 RBI.

The Knights added four insurance runs in their half of the fifth as they took advantage of five Westfield walks and two passed balls.

Both teams made several calls to the bullpen. Austin Fallaw, who entered the game in the fourth for the Knights, was credited with the win, only allowing one hit through three innings of work.

“That was the first time he’s pitched all year — a basketball guy, so he kinda came out late,” Davis said. “For the last couple of weeks, we’ve been getting his arm in shape. That was his first outing.”

Deerfield-Windsor remains undefeated with eight on the season. The Knights host Terrell Academy at 4:30 p.m. Friday.