Perkins clinches 3rd straight Lake title

CLYDE — It took nearly three hours, but Perkins wrapped up its third straight Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division baseball title. The Pirates scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally past Clyde 12-6 on Friday. "It means a lot. I've never lost one as a starter for the varsity team," said Dylan Crabtree, the Pirates' lone senior. "I don't expect anything less from Perkins or myself." Crabtree was on base five times, stole three bases and scored two runs. He scored Perkins' third run in the ninth, reaching on an error and scoring on a passed ball. Bryce Davie had a bunt single in the ninth and Quinten Binette and Kash Koch each had run-scoring singles. "It was good to break out in the ninth inning," Perkins coach TJ Blanton said. "I was waiting for it; I knew we could do it. I pulled the kids in and told them I felt like that was gonna be the inning." Talon Walton came on in relief of starter Braxden Martin in the sixth inning and allowed just one run in four frames while striking out seven. Martin threw three no-hit innings before Clyde broke through with a run in the fourth on Adam Young's single. Walton made three nice defensive plays while on the mound, including getting the last out of the game. "We've kind of held Talon back a little bit," Blanton said. "Early in the year he didn't pitch as much. We knew we would need him late in the year. You get into May baseball, you need arms." Walton, who got the save in the Pirates' Lake-clinching win at Norwalk last year, reached base four times and had the game's only extra-base hit — a double in the fifth. He scored on a single by Binette, who had three hits. Perkins improved to 14-6 overall and finishes 8-2 in the Lake. Bellevue won Friday to improve to 7-2 in the Lake and can grab a share of the title with a win at Clyde next Tuesday. Clyde (6-13, 2-7) took a 5-3 lead over Perkins with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Singles by Brayden Olson, Gavyn Boggs and Mason Flewelling — who all finished with two hits — were followed by a Dawson Jeffrey walk and a Young fly ball that bounced off Davie's glove in center field, clearing the bases. It didn't take long for Perkins to regroup, scoring three runs in the sixth. Mason Souter led off with a single. Davie — who had three hits in game — followed with a single and Crabtree added an infield hit. Souter scored on a wild pitch and with two out, Blake Parker hit a grounder to third that looked like an out. The ball took a hop over Kam Shortridge and Perkins took the lead when Davie and Crabtree scored. "Tough one. Bad hop single is definitely what it was," Clyde coach Jake Strayer said. "Kam was in perfect position. It just took a bad hop over his head. Normal hop and we get that and it's probably game over. There's nothing more he could've done." Clyde, which also got two hits from Blake Gerstenberger, forced extra innings by scoring in the bottom of the seventh. Jeffrey led off with a walk, went to second on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a passed ball. Only one runner reached base in the eighth inning before Perkins clinched it. The Pirates won despite leaving 14 runners on base — 10 in scoring position. Clyde starter Colt Flores allowed only three runs in five innings, but threw 111 pitches. Johnathan Lantz worked the last four. "Colt threw a lot of pitches and got out of some jams. Johnny got out of the jams," Strayer said. "They threw well up until the ninth inning when the flood gates opened." Crabtree said working the pitch count was part of Perkins' strategy. "Their pitcher was dealing at first. My whole objective was to work the count and I think I had 20-plus pitches in my first three at-bats. He came out early and it was a matter of time before we started hitting." Crabtree stole three bases to bring his season total to 27 — one shy of the school record. He became Perkins' career leader in stolen bases Thursday and has 70 and counting. "I like stealing bases," he said. "I like putting pressure on people. I don't care how I get on. A walk is as good as a hit in my mind." Added Blanton: "He gets on base, no matter how. Then he's lethal on the bases and scores runs. A dirtbag player, we call them. They don't care how they get on base and that's what we needed there." Perkins will now look ahead to the postseason. The tournament draw is Sunday. The Pirates play two games at home Saturday, starting with an 11 a.m. game against Ashland. Perkins plays Swanton in the second game. Next Thursday, Perkins travels to Edison in a matchup of SBC division champs. For now, the Pirates will celebrate another Lake title. "We're happy with the result, from everybody who was in that dugout," Blanton said. "Everyone had a role in the game and has had a role on the team all year." Perkins 020 013 06 — 12 14 2Clyde 000 140 10 — 6 9 3 WP: Walton. LP: Lantz 2B: (P) Walton