After eight innings of a slugfest, the only way to end a game is on a home run.
That’s how Hamilton Southeastern did it Friday in its game with Morgan Park (Ill.) at the Super Preps tournament. Greyson Droste sent a 1-2 pitch sailing over the center field fence for a home run, and that lifted the Class 4A No. 7 Royals to a 6-5 win over Morgan Park.
Morgan Park led 5-3 midway through the sixth before the Royals scored twice to tie the game. Michael Dillon led off with a triple, then Anthony Eggers singled him home. Cole DeWael then reached on a fielder’s choice, was moved to second after Matt Buckingham was hit by a pitch, then raced home after Jacob Daftari reached on error.
That tied the score at 5-all. Neither team scored in the seventh inning, so they played on. Rutger Poiry retired the side in the top of the eighth, which set up Droste’s homer.
Southeastern scored one run each in the second, third and fourth innings. Brayton Harrison scored in the second on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice from DeWael. Droste got the third-inning run after Harrison reached on error, then Droste’s double in the bottom sent Anthony Eggers home
Droste finished the game 4-for-5, with two runs scored and two batted in.
Carter Lohman pitched the first three and a third innings, striking out eight. Tyler Schweitzer entered the game in the fourth inning, then struck out four over the next two and two third innings. Poiry got the win.
The Royals are now 3-3 for the season and play one more game at the Super Preps. Southeastern will take on Glenbrook South (Ill.) at 10 a.m. today.
Southeastern 6, Morgan Park 5
Southeastern AB R H RBI
Anthony Eggers 2 1 1 1
Cole DeWael 5 1 0 1
Matt Buckingham 4 0 1 0
Greyson Droste 5 2 4 2
Cam Bolling 0 0 0 0
Jacob Daftari 4 0 1 0
Jake Stout 3 0 0 0
Brayton Harrison 4 1 0 0
Jack Dewolf 4 0 2 0
Zach Boyle 0 0 0 0
Jacob Garcia 1 0 0 0
Michael Dillon 3 1 1 0
Totals 35 6 10 4
Morgan Park 021 020 00 – 5 2 4
Southeastern 011 102 01 – 6 10 0
HR: Droste. 3B: Dillon. 2B: Droste 2. SB: DeWael, Eggers. HBP: Buckingham, Stout.
Southeastern pitching IP R ER H
Carter Lohman 3.1 3 3 1
Tyler Schweitzer 2.2 2 2 1
Griffin Lohman 0.1 0 0 0
Rutger Poiry (W) 1.2 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Lohman 8, Schweitzer 4, Poiry 1. Walks: Lohman 5, Schweitzer 2, Lohman 2.