Walkoff in Danville, Crows over Knights 22-21

The Crows scored a season high 22 runs and on a two run Barry Walter gapper (counted as a triple but would have been an homer), dented the Knights armor with a 22-21 thriller. It was just what the doctor ordered for the struggling team.

The Knights were missing Tony Camilo but then we didn't have Anthony Paschal or Lamont Thompson in our lineup so the playing field was level if not tilted their way. The game had it all - 11 lead changes and a tie - that has to be some kind of record.

Two out run scoring hits abounded: Howard Reeves and Pete Chrupalo in the first, Clay LeChe and Heffe in the second, Orvin Heidinger in the fifth, Charlie Pastor in the sixth. In the seventh we scored five runs with hits by Reeves, Don Devencenzi, Ed Cook, Heidinger, Don Clay (who was 3-5!), Pastor and Dave Balfour sandwiched around two sac flies.

Given our season, we were set up for just a crushing blow when the Knights took the lead a last time in the ninth or complete jubilation to get a win from the monster we created when we let Camilo put together the Knight juggernaut. Don Clay started us with his third straight single in the bottom of the ninth, and the win seemed like destiny. After a flyout, Balfour put himself on as the winning run with a single, and Walters played hero on a deep hard hit smash the left center fielder almost got to - he got a glove on it but couldn't hang on, and the fat lady sang after Balfour sprinted around the bases.

Balfour, Walter, LeChe, Reeves, and Chrupalo totaled four hits apiece, Pastor, Heidinger, and Clay added three and everyone had at least two as Devencenzi, Cook, and Heffe knocked a couple each. It was mostly singles - Walter had the only triple and there were just three doubles among 35 hits.

This was back to the Winter version of the Crows as we played solid defense as well. Chrupalo made some good stops at the hot corner and Balfour had a couple of tough catches in sundrenched left center field.

Next week we an actually get out of the cellar with a win over Leo's - let's get it!