HS Baseball: Independence rallies past Wyoming East

Patriots erase a 4-0 deficit to take a 6-4 AA Region 3 win

Wyoming East came to Coal City undefeated in seven Class AA Region 3 baseball games this year.

Across three-and-a half innings Thursday night, win No. 8 appeared to be in hand for the Warriors.

Independence, however, had other plans.

Falling behind 4-0, the Patriots turned aggressive on the base paths and came roaring back for 6-4 win.

Independence head coach Scott Cuthbert talked about the win.

The visitors broke open a scoreless game in the third inning.

Talan Muscari reached on an infield single and moved to second on a walk to Jaeden Lester.

Miken Smyth ripped a double scoring Muscari, placing runners at second third with no outs.

Braxton Morgan then stepped in the box and also smacked a double to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead.

Back-to-back ground ball outs pushed Morgan across the dish for a 4-0 lead.

With Wyoming East ace Jaeden Lester on the hill, the Warriors appeared to have the game right where they wanted it.

Prospects looked better after Independence went quietly in the bottom of the inning.

The game took a 180-turn in the fourth thanks to some two-out lighting from the Patriots.

Andrew Coalson jump-started Indy with an RBI-single before Lester started to struggle finding the strike zone.

A walk to No. 8-hitter K.J. Viars moved Coalson to second base where he stole third and scored on a wild pitch.

Viars then dialed up the third run of the inning when he stole third base and scored when the throw down was not handled and rolled into left field.

With the Independence offense riding the new found momentum, Patriots starter Brady Williams regrouped and silenced the visitors' bats from the mound.

After the third inning outburst, Williams allowed just one base runner over his final three innings of work.

Williams talked about his outing and his first foray into the intensity of AA Region 3 baseball.

Independence went back on the attack in the fifth inning.

A fielding error and a walk set the table for Micah Cuthbert to tie the game with an infield single.

Justin Williams followed two batters later with a sacrifice fly for the eventual game winner.

A bases loaded walk gave Independence some breathing room, but in reality, reliever Brayden Keith didn't need the insurance. Keith sealed the victory for Independence with two strikeouts and a fly out in the seventh.

Wyoming East head coach Kevin Hedinger talked about the tough loss.