Walk-off win puts Leopards into playoffs
By DEAN DELLAMALVA JR.
MVI Sports
It had been a difficult last couple of weeks for the Belle Vernon Area baseball team. The Leopards had endured five straight losses coming off a 10-day COVID shutdown.
But all those issues went away with one swing of the bat.
Junior catcher Zach Jackson delivered a game-winning, walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give BVA a 7-6 victory over Greensburg Salem at the DiVirgilio Sports Complex Thursday night.
In doing so, Belle Vernon punched their ticket to the WPIAL playoffs in a win-or-stay-home scenario.
Freshman pitcher Colton Lee came on in relief, picking up the victory for the Leopards. On a night when the team honored 10 seniors, it was the underclassmen who came through for the Leps (6-8, 6-6).
“It just goes to show you that we have some really talented younger guys, they’re ready to jump right in,” BVA coach Tony Watson said. “Colton proved that tonight. He was outstanding.”
As for Jackson, it was a game of clutch moments. He already delivered an RBI double in the first, which gave his team a 5-0 lead. Then he stepped to the plate in the final inning with runners at first and second with two outs. After the first two pitches missed the strike zone, Jackson ripped a pitch foul down the left field line.
“After my previous at bat, I was telling my teammates I wanted another opportunity,” Jackson said. “I got it and I was confident in myself. I was swinging for a single because that’s all I needed.”
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