The Oakleaf Knights got a walk-off hit-by-pitch in an extra-innings victory against the St. Johns Country Day Spartans Wednesday night, 3-2.
Oakleaf appeared on the scoreboard first with a solo home run from Devin Outlaw in the bottom of the first inning. Both offenses were quiet until Kyle Boylston hit an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game up 1-1.
The game would go another five innings until another run was scored. In the top of the 10th inning, Boylston scored on an errant throw from the catcher trying to catch Boylston stealing. The ball sailed into the outfield and Boylston scored with ease.
However, St. Johns would make a throwing error as well in the bottom of the 10th inning that scored pinch runner Tyrell Williams. Due to the game being extended, St. Johns ran thin on pitching and had to sub in a pitcher in Paul Janeczko, who was making his first appearance on the season with the bases loaded and one of the top Clay County hitters, Antonio Diaz, up to the plate. Diaz was hit on the third pitch of the at-bat, securing a walk-off win to extend Oakleaf’s record to 9-1 on the season.
Outside of the errant throws in the 10th inning, the game was highlighted by dominant pitching from both teams. Jordan Clarke started on the mound for Oakleaf and finished the game with six innings pitched and four strikeouts with six hits and one run given up. Landon McDonald finished the game on the mound for the Knights with four innings pitched and one strikeout with one hit and one run given up.
With the win, Oakleaf currently sits with the best record in Clay County with a 9-1 record and will look to continue their hot streak into the back half of the season. Their next matchup is on the road Thursday night against the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets.
St. Johns now has an 8-3 record on the 2023 season. The Spartans’ next matchup is on the road against the Baldwin Indians Thursday night.
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