Alex Marquardt singled to center scoring Mitch Rhoades in the bottom of the ninth inning and Monticello walked off Unity in Okaw Valley boys baseball action Tuesday afternoon from Monticello High School.

 

The two sides shared a run in the first extra frame in the eighth inning and then the Rockets went down in order in the top of the ninth. 

Rhoades was hit below the inside of his left shoulder to lead off the bottom of the half of the inning and Nate Graham and Alek Bundy drew back-to-back walks in the to load the bases. 

 

Marquardt bunted the first pitch of the at bat foul on a safety squeeze attempt. After showing bunt on an 0-1 pitch from left handed reliever Jon Fisher, Marquardt pulled back and lined the game winning single to center field and the Sages overcame two late deficits for their fifth conference victory.

 

With Monticello leading 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning, the Unity offense, which had been no-hit by Cam Wittig, rallied to tie the score at 2-all, then scored two more in the top of the seventh inning for their first lead of the game at 4-2. 

 

Asher Bradd led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single, stole second, then pinch hitter Jeffery Wileaver double to left-center field to score Bradd. Logan Hislope bunted Wileaver to third and Jakob Pakorny missed a game winning home run by just a few feet, but the fly ball allowed Wileaver to score and tie the game. 

 

Each side rallied for a run in the eighth and Wittig retired Unity in order in the ninth to keep the score tied at five. 

 

Wittig went the distance, tossing nine innings, allowing five runs, three were earned, on seven hits with nine strikeouts and one walks. 

 

Alek Bundy finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Marquardt finished with two RBI for the game and Rhoades had an RBI as well. 

 

Bobby Barnard threw eight innings for Unity, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and had five strikeouts and one walk. 

 

Fisher took the loss for Unity. 

 

The Rockets drop to 11-11 overall while the Sages are now 15-5 and 5-2 in the Okaw Valley.

 

The two sides are scheduled to play again Thursday at Unity High School.