Storybook Ending

The storybooks couldn’t write it any better.

With 10 Scots playing their last games on Scotland Yard, Maryville managed a ninth-inning, two-out rally to slip past the Hawks of Huntingdon, 11-10. Cory Kopec’s walk-off single with the bases loaded gave the Scots the victory.

“Couldn’t have written it better than that,” said Kopec, senior and starting right-fielder. “It was a great comeback win, and we didn’t fold. We were resilient today.”

Trailing 10-9 going into the bottom of the last inning, the Scots (18-18, 5-7 Great South Athletic Conference) needed some hits.

However, the first two batters of the inning went down fast, leaving Nick Dean to get things rolling.
Singles by Dean and Travis Scates put runners on. Jesse Crisp and Nic Baker were both hit by pitches, allowing Dean to score from third. With a three-one count, Kopec sent his pitch up the middle for the win over the Hawks (26-11, 9-3).

For Kopec, even though he managed the game-winning RBI, his last game on Scotland Yard wasn’t easy.

“It was a lot tougher than I imagined it to be,” he said. “The last couple of weeks, I’ve been thinking about it … Starting with the senior ceremony today, it just really hit me hard. I really just soaked it all in today and just appreciated everything that’s gone on. It’s tough.”

Maryville head coach Paul Henry couldn’t have asked for a better performance out of his seniors.

“Two seniors had huge hits with [Jeremy] Goolsby and Kopec. [Austin] Patton gets the win, and [Wes] Dobson pitches his tail off,” Henry said. “Top to bottom, the seniors were just phenomenal. We’re really going to miss them next year. This is a really special and talented group.”

Goolsby’s big hit came in the bottom of the third inning. A three-run shot to left-center gave Maryville its only lead until the ninth inning.

According to Henry, it’s been each player’s goal this season to hit the brand new scoreboard just outside the fence.

Goolsby’s blast somehow fell in the 2-foot gap between the fence and the scoreboard.

Henry was just glad Goolsby was able to get the hit.

“He hit that ball a mile,” said the first-year head coach. “I was yelling at it trying to get it over the fence, whatever I had to do. I was blowing; I was trying to get that ball to keep going. He got a good pitch in a good hitters count, and he did was he was supposed to do.”

To Goolsby, it was just a good way to end his Maryville career.

“It’s a good way to go out,” he said. “It’s been a good four years. To hit a home run on senior day, it’s really special.”

Kopec finished the day 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI, while Goolsby finished 1-for-2 with three runs batted in. Blake Genrty, Mikee Moore and Dean each added two RBI for Maryville, as well.

Leadoff hitter Grant Brown led the Hawks, going 2-for-2 with four runs scored and two RBI. His two hits were both doubles.

Maryville’s Patton picked up the win on the mound after throwing only three pitches. The senior moved his record to 2-3 on the season.

The Scots next challenge will be next Friday as they head to the GSAC tournament to face off with the Hawks in the first round.

“We knew all along, all weekend, we could [beat them], but now the scoreboard says we could,” Henry said. “That will help our guys.”