Waubonsie Valley wins in ninth inning

The key to not giving up on a season is to not give up on a game. Any game.

Waubonsie Valley, continuing its late-season surge, fended off a fierce challenge from Lake Park on Wednesday and pulled off an 8-7 nine-inning Upstate Eight Valley victory in Roselle.

After Lake Park (20-12, 13-9) scored 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings, the teams went to the ninth until pinch-runner Matt Schapen scored on a dropped pop up to give Waubonsie Valley (17-12, 16-8) the 8-7 lead.

Kyle Limanowski, who pitched four innings of relief, stranded the tying run at first base to end the game and put the Warriors a win away from capping an amazing turnaround.

After an 0-6 start to the season, Waubonsie Valley’s won 12 of 15 in the UEC Valley and would clinch a share of the conference title by beating Lake Park in Thursday’s series finale.

“We just kept battling, and Lake Park never gave up,” said Warriors left fielder Mike Murphy. “It was a good win for us, we’ve still got a shot at the conference.”

Murphy figured greatly into the win. The senior, who went 2-for-2 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI, threw two runners out at the plate and another runner at third base.

The biggest play came in the bottom of the seventh when Murphy threw out his second runner — the potential game-winning run — at the plate. It ended a stunning rally by the Lancers, who trailed 7-2 in the fourth inning.

After scratching out runs in the fifth and sixth innings, pinch-hitter Nico Chaidez smacked a 2-run double to tie the game in the seventh.

As clutch as the Lancers were, however, they were ultimately done in by 6 errors. Two came in the first inning when the Warriors burst to a 3-0 lead, and two more came in the Warriors’ 3-run fourth inning.

“It’s a freak to have a couple of those (errors) happen,” said Lancers coach Dan Colucci, whose team can jump back into the conference title race with a win on Thursday. “But we still had a chance to win. We didn’t give up. We scrapped.”

Eric Josupait, Tyler Josupait and Ryan Vega each had 2 hits for Waubonsie Valley. Brandon Boyle and Zach Tsiodras went 3-for-5 for Lake Park, while Dean Kise had 2 hits.

“We have to win all the games we can to make a run for conference, so every game’s important,” Limanowski said.