Wilson wins in crazy 8th

Three rather strange plays led to five runs in the eighth inning as Wilson ran away from Waynesboro 10-5 Monday night in a non-district rivalry game.

Aaron Coffey led off the eighth inning with a walk, the first by the Little Giants in the game.

After a wild pitch, Bryce Curd attempted to sacrifice Coffey to third, bunting the ball down the third base line. Steven Brown ran to cover third, leaving no one to pick up the ball, resulting in the first, but not last, Hornet infield single.

Tyler Knight singled with runners on the corners to give Wilson a one-run lead.

After Weston Cash grounded out to pitcher Kyle Wolfe, the Hornets were facing another situation with runners on the corners.

Curd tried to steal home but Kyle Wolfe caught on, throwing the ball to battery mate and brother Kendall Wolfe. The padded-up Wolfe tagged Curd for the second out.

Not so fast.

After a conference with Wilson coach Derek McDaniel and the field umpire, the play was overturned, giving the Hornets another run.

“Their pitcher made a good move and the catcher made a nice defensive play,” McDaniel added. “But he caught the ball in front of the plate and didn’t give my batter a chance to bunt the ball.”

While Wally Andrus was batting, a wild pitch sent Knight toward the plate. Kendall threw to brother Kyle who tagged out Knight.

Once again the umpires changed their mind, eventually calling him safe.

“I have never seen the umpires change their mind so much in one game, let alone one inning,” Waynesboro coach Webber Payne said. “It was definitely an interesting game.”

The last two runs scored on back-to-back singles by Gage Staton and Ryan Cale, the latter being another infield single, on a check swing this time.

After the odd outing, reliever Jordan DeLange was the pitcher of record for Wilson.

“He pitched a good game tonight,” Wilson pitching coach Rodney Cullen said. “[Starter Ryan Fitzgerald] had a few good innings early and DeLange had a few of his own.”

Both teams play again tomorrow as Wilson hosts Stonewall Jackson in a Shenandoah District contest while Waynesboro welcomes Harrisonburg to Kate Collins Field.