NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - For the second time in as many days, California was involved in a walk-off win, but this time, it didn't go in its favor.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, New Bloomfield cleanup hitter Tyler Fennewald had the opportunity any coach wants their cleanup hitter in - a bases loaded, game-winning situation.
Fennewald was able to send a 2-2 pitch to shallow center field for a sacrifice fly to bring home the winning run, as the Wildcats claimed the Calvary Lutheran/New Bloomfield Invitational championship with the 5-4 win against the Pintos.
"It was pretty shallow and as a coach, I didn't think it was deep enough," New Bloomfield coach Brandon Talbot said. "He had his mindset and luckily things went our way and it worked out."
Fennewald wouldn't have gotten that chance at the plate if it weren't for his and his team's efforts to comeback in the seventh inning to tie the game at 4.
"That's something we've been looking for all year, and that's fight," Talbot said. "I think the last week we've seen it and it's showing."
With California leading 4-3, New Bloomfield went into the bottom half of the seventh having not putting up a run in the prior three innings. After tying the game at 3 in the third, the Pintos scored one run in the fourth to set up the dramatic last two innings.
With one out, Fennewald doubled to left field and advanced to third on a passed ball. California coach Jason Gatlin intentionally walked Derek Shikles to put runners on the corners. But, that brought one of the game's hottest hitters to the plate, Brady Wilder.
"From a defensive strategy, that was the right play," Talbot said. "We had our senior up to bat and that's what you want out of your seniors."
Wilder was already 2-for-3 on the day with two singles to left, and he took the first pitch he saw to that same spot to tie the game at 4. But the Wildcats left the bases loaded after an infield fly and a pop up in foul territory to move the game in extra innings.
"You know what, it's not that disappointing," Gatlin said. "It was a good baseball game and we got beat by a good team. Nobody expected us to be in this championship game in this tournament and I'm really proud of my boys today."
California grabbed control of the game early, taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning. But the Pintos couldn't figure out New Bloomfield's Jenson on the mound as the game progressed.
"He did unbelievable. He started off slow, I think he was too loose as he should of been," Talbot said. "Clay Jenson is a guy that when the game goes on, he finds it."
Jenson allowed four runs -all earned - on 10 hits in eight innings of work. He had a 70 percent strike percentage and he struck out 11.
"In the sixth, seventh and eighth, I think he became a pitcher I've been looking for all year," Talbot said. "He had those hitters thinking."
The Pintos scored three in the first, starting things off with a Kory Stephens single to right, then a Landon Mouse infield single. Jaden Barr doubled to the left field wall to score Stephens, but when Mouse rounded third, he fell to the ground with an apparent ankle injury. He did not return to the game.
Kyle Hofstetter pinch-ran for him and eventually scored with Barr on an Alex Dalbey single to left to make it 3-0.
The Wildcats answered with two runs in the second. A Wiler double to left and a Zac Burton single put runners on the corners. Then Jenson smoked a pitch that ricocheted off the pitcher to score Wilder. A sacrifice fly by Grant Nichols brought home Jenson to cut the Pinto lead to 3-2.
New Bloomfield's run in the third to tie the game came when Fennewald scored from second on Wiler's single to left. California had two errors in the inning that allowed the first two runners on base.
"Just playing people out of position, switching things around, not playing people are their normal position," Gatlin said on the errors. "That makes it a little more difficult, and adds a little more pressure."
Wilder finished the game going 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBI, and Fennewald was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
"We started off the year slow, but in the last three games, we've picked it up," Talbot said. "We're hot right now and we're ready to play anybody."
Dalbey pitched 61/3 innings, allowing four runs - three earned - on 10 hits for California. He walked one and struck out four.
Stephens led the Pinto offense, batting 2-for-3 in the leadoff position. Barr was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Dalbey was 1-for-4 with two RBI.