MADISON TOWNSHIP — First year Madison baseball coach Jayson Stone had seen the story several times over the last several baseball seasons.
In recent years, when the Rams got down late in the game, they gave up. So, when he saw his team go into the bottom of the seventh trailing Richland County rival Lexington 2-0, it was the perfect time for him to figure out a way to change the culture and the narrative Madison baseball has been writing recently.
He delivered one final pre-inning speech, and the Rams did the rest. After back-to-back singles by Owen Morrow and Grady Spurlock, the Rams had the game-winning run at the plate. Carson Cook bounced one back to the pitcher, but the ball was overthrown to first allowing Morrow and Spurlock to score to tie the game. Julian Washington bunted for a hit that moved Cook 90 feet away from home. Lexington loaded the bases after an intentional walk to Kylor Steagall before Ashton Taylor stepped up and ripped a game-winning, RBI single to right for the walk-off 3-2 victory.
“There was not doubt in my mind he was going to come through,” Stone said. “It made complete sense to walk Kylor (Steagall) in that situation. I have two seniors who are three-year letterwinners and one of them was at the plate and the other was waiting on deck to get the job done if he needed to. I had all the utmost confidence they would win us the game and I am so happy Ashton got the opportunity.”
Taylor got some last second advice from veteran assistant coach Mike Wolfe before he stepped to the plate.
“Coach Wolfe told me to take the ball to the opposite field,” Taylor said. “So, I was just looking for a pitch to take backside so we could get the run in. All I wanted to do was get the ball in play in the outfield so the runner on third could tag up and win the game. It feels incredible to come through for my team. It’s the best moment I have had playing high school baseball.”
The Rams went scoreless through six innings and barely even threatened to score making things seem like all was lost. Instead, they showed glimpses of returning to Madison baseball’s historic past by doing whatever it took to win the game.
“We are on the right path,” Stone said. “Last year when we were down two, it would have become four and they would have folded like a cheap chair,” Stone said. “This year, they believe. They believe in what we are doing. No secret sauce, I just genuinely care about them and love them. I’ll do anything for them as long as they do things the right way and we are starting to see them play Madison baseball. Trust, believe and invest. That is what they are doing.”
Taylor had two hits and the team’s lone RBI while Liam Stone added two hits and Steagall, Morrow, Spurlock and Washington had one apiece. Cook was sensational on the mound allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of work. Washington ended up with the win working a perfect 2/3 innings.
The Rams (5-8) swept the season series against Lexington after beating the Minutemen 7-3 on April 21.
“You have no idea how much it means to us,” Stone said. “We have had epic battles over the years and we know when we play, it will be a grind. Fortunate enough, we made the plays and got an exciting win.”
It was the first Ohio Cardinal Conference win over a team not from Mansfield Senior for the Rams in the last two years.
“It means so much,” Taylor said. “This one feels great. Now, we just have to keep winning.”
Tyler Galownia led Lexington (6-7) with three hits while Markale Martin, Carson Fisher, Caleb Murfield and Ben Young had one apiece. Cole Eichorn and Fisher had one RBI apiece. Eichorn took the loss but pitched sensationally allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Madison Rams walk it off to complete OCC baseball sweep over Lexington
Reporting by Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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