Knights Go into Spring Break with Exciting 1 Run Victory over the East Marietta Spikes

The Marietta Knights celebrate a big 11-10 Victory over their rival the East Marietta Spikes 

The underdog Marietta Knights carried a tenuous 1 run lead into the top of the final inning Thursday night in another see saw battle with the East Marietta Spikes. The tension was thick as the Spikes put the tying run at 3rd and the go ahead run at 2nd with no outs and the meat of their order due up. Austin Hansell, always cool when he takes on the closer role, continued to pound the strike zone with fastballs. The Spikes #2 hitter grounded to Hunter Williamson at 2B who looked the lead runner back and then took the out at first. Next was a high fly ball to Mason Doyle at short and there were 2 away. After a walk, the bases were loaded and the Spikes big bomber who is hitting .600 against the Knights, came to the plate. The Knights put a heavy shift on to the left and let Austin continue to throw heat. The batter launched a rocket high above the Larry Bell infield. Hunter loudly called everyone else off and hauled in the pop fly to secure the big rivalry win.

Austin and Hunter hate hitting doubles.

It was a huge victory for the Knights that came at a great time to build positive momentum going into the Spring Break. As they discussed after the game, the boys were far from perfect, but they played hard from the first pitch to the last and were rewarded with an exciting win.

Austin Schubert got the start and was great in 3 innings on the mound. Schubie threw hard and threw for strikes finishing with a superb 70% strikes and 2 strikeouts. After struggling to find offense all weekend, the Knights exploded against the Spikes for 11 runs on 12 hits and for the first time in Coach Rob's memory, every Knights' player crossed the plate. Austin Hansell was perfect in relief throwing 2 shutout innings to pick up the win.

Will "The Thrill" Nelson led a long list of offensive heroes on the night going 3 for 3 with 2 RBI's and 2 runs. With 2 outs and the score tied at 10 in the Knights' last at bat Big Game Hunter hit a bomb to RCF for a double. Will followed with a clutch line drive single to CF that scored Hunter who did his best Sid Bream imitation while running on a badly twisted ankle and sliding into home just ahead of the throw for what would end up being the game winner. Hunter was 2 for 3 with an RBI and 2 runs. Mason was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI's and Austin Hansell had a double and 2 RBI's.

There were 2 defensive plays of the game and neither resulted in an out. After a previous loss, Coach Rob was very disappointed at how clean the boys' uniforms were. Thursday night they were filthy. On a hard line shot through the left side, Luke Martin moved with the sound of the bat and dove towards the ball landing completely outstretched in the dirt. Later a Spike hit a looping foul ball towards the Spikes dugout. Presley Field took off hard and dove head first into an explosion of dust at the fence. Neither guy quite made it to the ball, but the great effort each player made was representative of the teams' effort which was clearly the difference in the great win. The Knights outfield was also great against the big hitting Spikes. George Krivsky tracked down a hard line drive in left to turn what looked like an extra base hit into a loud out in the 4th. Gil Hastings had to move over to CF from his usual RF position and was perfect bringing in all 3 fly balls that were hit his way.

The Knights will happily carry this win into Spring Break and return to action April 12th in a USSSA event at Hunter Park in Douglasville, Georgia. Check back for updates as the Knights may pick up a home game at Larry Bell during the week of April 7th.