Action Sports, Dayton Ohio.

The Boars returned to Action Sports center to close out the 2017 MVABL season with the Wright Knights. The visiting Boars sent veteran right handed pitcher Travis Knight to the mound in hopes of gaining momentum for the upcoming playoffs. Things were starting to look a little gloomy on the otherwise clear August day, as the Boars fell behind early. 

Knights lead-off hitter Jerel Bristol was on fire starting the day with 3 hits, 2 singles and a double in his first 3 at bats and scoring 3 runs for the Knights from those hits. Boars bats again were slow to get started, and Boars hitters were retired in order in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings. The Boars down 7 to 0 through 5 innings.

In the top of the 6th inning Danny Nordin struck out and Coty Hahn was flirting with extra bases in his first at bat, but the Knights left fielder made a great running catch running down the ball. Coty would not be denied as he drove a ball into the gap for a single. Meade Tabata drew a BB, and when Coty reached 2nd he was lifted for a pinch runner Greg Pfeiffer, after a pitch went to the backstop Pfeiffer wound up on 3rd. 

Brandon Lucas hit into a F/C but managed to beat the throw after Tabata was out at 2nd. Lucas stole 2nd. Zach Carroll  walked and Joey Wilson drove in Lucas and Pfeiffer and Billy Sweatt drove in Carroll. Sweatt and K.J. Jimison also scored, and the Boars were on the board trailing 7 to 5.

Knight went back to work now with a sense of relief as the bats had woken up. Knight to this point had 4 K's, but in order to keep his team in this he knew he needed to turn it up and turn it up he did.  Retiring the Knights hitters in order and by striking each of them out. Turner was caught looking in his opinion a questionable call, Austin McCabe went down swinging and the final out was the Knights pitcher Navritil, who went down trying to make contact but missing.

In the top of the 7th Catcher Dan Nordin took a ball down the left field line and off the fence and wound up standing on 2nd. scoring 2 batters later, after Greg Pfeiffer was walked and Meade Tabata HBP. Lucas hit into his 2nd F/C but again beat it out the throw as the throw to first sailed past Turner and Pfeiffer put the tying run on the board.

Michael Waite now on in relief of Navritil and the pitcher of record as the Boars tied the game. Waite sent a pitch to the outside of the plate where the always dangerous hitter Zach Carroll unloaded on it and sent it to the right field gap. Lucas scored giving the Boars a 8 to 7 lead.

Travis Knight always pitching better with a lead went back to the mound and retired the Knights hitters in order in the 7th and allowed only 1 hit in the 8th but got the next batter. 

The Boars did not score again and took the 1 run lead to the bottom of the 9th Knight struck out Turner for his 10th K. and the next hitter Austin McCabe became the 11th on the day. A sharp hit with a wicked hop off the shoulder of 3rd baseman K.J. Jimison allowed Rick Navritil to reach base and brought Jerel Bristol to the plate.

Bristol not wasting  any time took the first pitch and lined it toward center. and center fielder Brandon Lucas who read it perfect and had it from the start, and ran it down recording the 3rd out and giving the Boars the 8 to 7 victory and their 10th win in 2017.

Travis Knight took the complete game and the win with 9 innings pitched 7 R's, 4 earned, 1 BB and 11 K's and took Boars Defensive Player of the game.

Brandon Lucas 2 for 3, 2- R's 2 RBI's                                                                      Zach Carroll 2 for 3, 1- R,   2 RBI's  Take Boars Offensive Player of the game.

The Boars finished the regular season at 10-14 making the 2017 team the posting the best record since the team was founded. Next up for the Boars the 2017 MVABL playoffs against the Camden Redlegs on Saturday the 19th of August at Middletown Madison High School, in the best of 3 series Good luck guys and great job on the 2017 season.