Evans forces Greenbrier out of top ranking
Back
Evans' Ryan Pressley crashes into Greenbrier catcher Corey Hillman in a play in the second inning. Pressley was tagged out.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Evans wanted payback Tuesday night.
The Knights wanted retribution from three weeks ago when they lost to Greenbrier, a loss that ended Evans' two-week reign as the state's top-ranked team.
So it seemed appropriate that Evans (11-3, 6-1) would beat its rival, 9-8, on the day Greenbrier ascended to the No. 1 ranking.
Greenbrier became the fifth team to rise to the top ranking only to lose the same week.
"Coach (Ricky) Beale showed us that they moved up to No. 1 before the game," said Tim Steflik. "That really motivated us. They beat us when we were ranked No. 1. Now, I don't think anyone wants to be ranked No. 1."
Just like the 3-2 Greenbrier win on March 18, the game was won on the last at bat.
Evans rallied to score four runs in the sixth inning to tie the game at eight.
"We've been struggling hitting the ball," Beale said. "But our boys have a lot of heart, and they showed it when they came back in the sixth inning."
Evans High School's Kevin Milward slides safely into third base as Greenbrier's Rich Poythress stretches for the ball in the second inning
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Evans tied the game when Pat Foster executed a suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Kevin Millward from third base. Foster was thrown out at first after a headfirst slide, but he popped up and sprinted into the dugout to celebrate with his teammates.
"Coach asked me to get the bunt down and I told him I would," said Foster. "I had a lot of confidence and knew I could do it. It was the perfect call by coach Beale."
The game went into extra innings and ended when Kyle Wilkerson drove in Josh Brodhecker to win the game.
"Beating Greenbrier is like winning a state title," said Wilkerson. "This is such a good rivalry and it is great anytime we can beat them. I've never been so excited after a game."
Evans' Ken Rayborn dives safely back to first as Greenbrier's Tim Thornhill catches the ball in a pickoff attempt.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Greenbrier (11-4, 3-2) now has to rebound from the loss that put Evans in the driver's seat for the subregion championship. The Wolfpack had won five straight, including wins against four ranked teams: Cross Creek, Effingham County, Heritage and Marist.
"We lost a great game tonight to a great team," said Greenbrier coach Ed Williams. "It was just like last time we played. You felt like whoever had the last at bat would win."