Walk-off home run ends Red Demon baseball season

This article was posted by Keith Jenkins at dodgeglobe.com

MAIZE — For the second year in a row, the Wichita North Redskins put an end to the Dodge High Red Demons baseball team's season.
Last year, the Demons lost to the Redskins in the Class 6A regional final, and on Wednesday Wichita North rallied late to once again defeat Dodge City 6-3 in the first round of the regional tournament.
The game remained scoreless through the first three innings, but in the top of the fourth, third baseman Ernie Fernandez doubled to left center field and later scored on a single by first baseman Laton Dowling to give Dodge a 1-0 advantage.
Dodge's starting pitcher, Ty Thomas, continued to keep the Redskins off the scoreboard through four. But with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Thomas ran into his first bit of trouble, and the Dodge defense failed to back him up.
"He pitched great," Dodge City coach John Neill said of Thomas. "Unfortunately, we made him throw a lot more pitches than he needed to. We had plays that were left out there and it cost us, plain and simple."
With runners on second and third, Thomas got Wichita North second baseman Kord Sanders to hit what looked to be a routine popup between Dowling and second baseman Jeff Castillo. But the ball dropped in, both runners scored and the Redskins took the lead 2-1.
"That was a big one right there," Neill said. "It's one of those plays where the middle infielder's got priority, and he needs to take control there. And he gave up on it, assuming someone else was going to make the play, and when you assume stuff like that, it ain't going to go away."
DCHS bounced back the following inning, however, as Fernandez tagged Wichita North pitcher Skyler Sumner for a solo home run to tie the game at two runs apiece.
In the bottom of the sixth, things continued to unravel for Thomas and the Demons.
Wichita North's Daniel Gilchrist scored from third as DCHS catcher Tyson Carpenter failed to handle the delivery from Thomas. The Redskins once again took a one-run lead.
The Demons tied the game once more in the seventh. Outfielder Keanu Espinoza singled and then stole second for Dodge. Zach Harvey hit the ball to right field, bringing home the tying run with Espinoza. But in an attempt to stretch a single into a double, Harvey was called out at second.
With the game knotted 3-3, Thomas forced Wichita North second baseman Wade Shaw and Sanders to hit it right back to the mound for two quick outs. But then he walked two straight, prompting Neill to bring in sophomore pitcher Cesar Lopez in relief.
Lopez, who started the year on JV, faced one batter — Wichita North outfielder Logan Stevenson — who belted a three-run blast to end the game 6-3. The loss put a close on Dodge's season.
"It was a tough situation, a tough spot to be in," Neill said of Lopez making a relief appearance in the bottom of the seventh in a tie game. "He came in and threw strikes, and that's what we want. The kid (Stevenson) made a great hit, and I tip my hat off to him."
Dodge loses six seniors from this year's team, but Neill said he will rely heavily on those junior starters returning next season to lead the Demons to victory in 2010.
"We're going to need a lot of leadership from our seniors next year," Neill said. "We're going to need them to set the bar at how hard we want to work, and determine from there how good we're going to be."

Reach Keith Jenkins at (620) 408-9909 or e-mail him at keith.jenkins@dodgebglobe.com.