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PHOTO BY ROCKY ROSS

WALK OFF HERO. Stadium’s Kevin Meyers celebrates after a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Tigers a 5-3 win over the Bellarmine Lions April 24.

Meyers’ walk off keys Tiger win

By Ben Miller

The Stadium Tigers were supposed to be an offensive machine coming into this season. But the loaded lineup has struggled much of the year, as the Tigers have not found the success they had hoped for. And while Stadium’s problems at the plate continued against the Bellarmine Lions April 24, it was still able to score a walk-off 5-3 win.

With the game tied up at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers were looking to end things before extra innings. Jay Skilton grounded out to Bellarmine shortstop Beau Didier to start the inning and third baseman Jake Schumacher walked to put a runner on first with one out for No. 3 hitter Kevin Meyers.

To that point Meyers had not had the best of days. He was 0-2 with a pair of strikeouts and a walk, but on a 1-0 pitch from Bellarmine pitcher Dan Medrzycki, Meyers knocked one over the fence in left center field for a home run and the win.

“He just gave me a fastball to hit and I took it, it was right down the middle and I did what I was supposed to do,” Meyers said. “It’s good to help the team up.”

Meyers’ home run was only the fourth hit of the day for the Tigers, but each hit was vital to their success. Three of the hits drove in runs, and Stadium was able to earn the victory thanks to the arms of Anthony McCarthy, Tyler Olague and Skilton on the mound.

Bellarmine got the scoring started in the first inning. Following a strikeout and a ground out by Derrick Hein and Cullen Hendricksen respectively, Didier tore the 3-1 pitch by McCarthy over the right field fence for a home run. The Lions took the early 1-0 lead.

It stayed that way for the next four innings. Didier’s home run was one of just two hits McCarthy gave up before being replaced by Olague in the fifth inning, and Bellarmine’s Medrzycki no-hit the Tigers through the fourth. The offenses for both teams were struggling to get runners on base.

“We had some hard hits – but to somebody,” said Stadium coach Chuck Peterson. “I thought both teams hit well, just they went to somebody.”

In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers scored their first runs of the game. With Skilton and Brandon Williams on base and two outs, Schumacher sent a hit flying up the middle of the field to score both runners. Schumacher ended up at third and the Tigers ended up with their first lead, 2-1.

“Today we were clutch and that’s all we need to do,” Meyers said. “When people are on base, we need to score them.”

Though the Tigers had gotten on the scoreboard for the first time, the Lions answered back quickly. In the top of the sixth, Kohle McLeod sent a double down the right field line to score Mitch Olson from first. The next batter, Gavin Hite, then hit a double over the head of Stadium right fielder Jordan Noot to score McLeod to put the Lions back on top 3-2.

Again, the lead was not safe. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Tylor Medvedidt hit a bloop single and stole second base. Then, Jake Voelpel drove him in with a single up the middle to tie things up at 3-3.

“Our timing has been bad on hitting, we’ve been putting together in different little streaks but not with anybody on,” Peterson said. “And that’s the name of the game, you get a few guys on and get those clutch hits and you can stay close and win games.”

Stadium has won five straight games to notch up the fourth and final spot out of the Bay Division into the Narrows League playoffs.

“We’re clicking right now, so as long as everybody plays good we’re good,” Meyers said.

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