Sixth inning outburst propels Huskies over Estacada

AURORA - After a two-run top of the sixth inning gave Estacada a 4-2 lead, the Huskies were in desperate need of a rebuttal to stay afloat in this year's punishing Tri-Valley Conference. North Marion picked an opportune time to record their second-biggest single-inning run total of the year, tallying six runs off of four hits. The big inning opened up an 8-4 Huskies lead, and Brock Breshears closed the door for Jordan Kendall as North Marion claimed victory. The Huskies (19-5, 9-4) stay in the thick of a tightly contested Tri-Valley Conference, as Estacada (12-11, 8-5) drops into third place.

Estacada led off the evening's scoring with a two-run spot in the top of the third after a two-RBI single put the Rangers up 2-0.

The Huskies tied things up at 2 apiece after single scores in the third and fifth innings. Kyle Williamson got things going with a two-out triple and would come in to score on an RBI single from Breshears. In the fifth, Williamson tripled once again to score Shane McKillip from first and knot the score at two.

It didn't take long for Estacada to respond, as they collected two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kendall got off to a rough start in the frame, allowing two hits and a walk. A bases-loaded ground ball scored one while keeping two runners in scoring position. A single by the ensuing batter appeared as if it would bring in another two runs, but Shane McKillip fired the batted ball back to home plate in time to get the runner attempting to score from second.

Facing a 4-2 deficit, North Marion's first two runners of the sixth inning reached via errors, as the Rangers stellar defensive play through five innings returned to Estacada teams of old. With two runners on base, the next two batters proceeded to pop out, quickly accumulating two outs in the inning. However, two outs did not deter the Huskies' offense from exploding. A pitch glanced off the leg of Nat Barrell to load the bases before four consecutive run-scoring singles by Colin Barrow, Shane McKillip, Kyle Williamson, and Emry Patterson. By the time the third out was recorded, the Huskies had blown the game open, striking for six runs to stake out an 8-4 lead.

Jordan Kendall earned the win after tossing six innings of eight-hit, four-run ball, benefitting greatly from the Huskies six-run sixth. Brock Breshears pitched the final three outs of the contest and was a part of a double play in the seventh that all but ended any semblance of an Estacada comeback bid.

Kyle Williamson was the offensive star, notching four hits for the second time in the last three games. Williamson recorded his third and fourth triples of the season, the only Husky with multiple triples on the year. Kyle pushed the team's triple total to six on the season after failing to record a triple all of last year. It was only the second time in the past five seasons that the Huskies recorded multiple triples in a game (5/9/12 vs. Estacada) and the only time that a single player hit more than one triple in a game. Williamson pushed his conference batting average to 0.575 and his overall batting average to 0.515 (Monday's game at Gladstone not included). In comparison, Kyle finished conference last season batting 0.442.

North Marion rides Wednesday's victory into the biggest game of the season on Thursday. Not only is it Senior Night, the Huskies and Falcons clash in what is essentially the Tri-Valley Conference Championship. With La Salle losing to Gladstone on Wednesday, North Marion and La Salle are tied atop the standings with a 9-4 conference record. Wins on Thursday and Friday by North Marion would wrap up their second straight league title, while a La Salle win on Thursday evening would eliminate the Huskies repeat chances. First pitch from Bob Brack Stadium is 5:00pm.

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