Improbable comeback sends Lions to 2nd round
BIRMINGHAM – Never a doubt, right?
“That’s what I’ve learned,” said Michael Hiers.
Hiers was the walk-off hero on Saturday afternoon, as his line drive to right field found grass for a base hit to score Sam Hamner. The final run capped off the Briarwood Christian School baseball team’s improbable, 9-8, comeback win over Beauregard in a decisive Game 3 of the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
Everything went wrong early for the Lions, as a bundle of hits and a few errors allowed Beauregard to jump out to an 8-0 lead after just two innings. But Briarwood chipped away, and trailed by three heading into the home half of the seventh.
“The guys were going, ‘Just get it back to the top (of the lineup),’” said head coach Steve Renfroe. “We were down to 6-7-8-9 going into the seventh and they got it to the top.”
Wesley Helms walked and Bryce Perrien reached on an error to begin the inning. Eli Steadman ripped a single past the second baseman to score both runners. Guin Renfroe’s sacrifice bunt moved Steadman, the tying run, up to second with just one out for the top of the order.
“That was all the younger guys coming together and starting a huge rally,” Hiers said. “Hitting’s contagious, so once you get one person on, it just keeps on going.”
Hamner smacked a single up the middle to bring home Steadman and tie the game at 8-8. Two batters later, Beauregard intentionally walked Carson Eddy, who already had two hits in the game, to get to Hiers.
“I mean, I would’ve walked Carson, too. I don’t blame them,” Hiers said with a smile.
And Hiers delivered, giving the Lions dugout a reason to empty and chase Hiers down to begin the celebration. Hiers led the way offensively, with the final hit finishing off a 4-for-5 game, including a double and four RBIs.
“We just never gave up,” Hiers said.
Helms started the game and was relieved by Blake McKenna in the second inning, but neither pitcher was able to establish a rhythm, prompting the Lions to call upon Andrew Ponder in the second inning.
The Lions had hoped to use Ponder and possibly Hudson Hartsfield in the late innings. But Ponder took the ball and never relinquished it. He fired 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven.
“Ponder put us on his back, like Michael did last night, and that was the difference in the game,” said Steve Renfroe.
Hiers pitched a complete game in Game 2 on Friday night after the Lions dropped the first game of the series. Read the recap from Friday’s night split here.
Briarwood was able to get on the board in the third inning on Saturday, as Hiers’ double down the left field line scored two. Hiers later scored on a double from Helms to make it 8-3. The Lions inched closer with two more in the sixth on back-to-back run-scoring hits by Eddy and Hiers.
Hamner, Eddy, Parker Scott and Helms all registered multi-hit games for Briarwood, which advances to the second round next weekend to play at Calera. The Eagles swept Dallas County on Friday, not allowing a hit in either game.
Hiers said, “This gives us some confidence going in to face Calera. They’re a heck of a team, but I think we’ve got what it takes.”