Baseball: Late single gives Chargers walk-off win

The Midland Dow varsity baseball team was able to do just enough in its season opener, capitalizing on two Ryan Kaiser RBIs in the bottom of the seventh to come away with a walk off 4-3 win over visiting Freeland Tuesday at Tom Roberts Field. The Chargers were leading the second game 11-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning when it was called due to darkness.

“It was a typical first game of the year for both teams,” said Dow coach Kip Harris. “All three pitchers in game one threw very well for their first time out, but the defense on both sides was sloppy.”

Pitching dominated the game early on as senior right hander Sean Hartman started for Dow, and went six innings allowing only four hits and one earned run, while striking out six.

Despite Hartman’s dominating performance the Chargers couldn’t pull away and saw themselves tied 2-2 late in the game. When the Falcons scored in the top of the seventh to take a 3-2 lead, Dow found itself in needs of some late game heroics.

They would come in the form of Ryan Kaiser.

After a double and two infield singles loaded the bases with no out in the bottom of the seventh, Kaiser stepped to the plate and punched a single to left field scoring Nate Richard and John Knapp to give Dow the walk off win.

“It’s was great to see us battle,” Harris said. “(We) put the ball in play, and made things happen even on a day when our offense wasn’t quite clicking.”

Andy Best went one inning allowing a run, while striking out two to record the win.

Dow was led offensively by Richard who finished with a double and a run, while Michael Allen finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.

The Chargers carried that late game momentum into the second game and built up an 11-2 lead when the game was called in the bottom of the fourth because of darkness.

Dow (1-0) returns to action Thursday when they host Coleman for a doubleheader. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Photos by Rachel Evans