OSWEGO — Marmaton Valley High put forth some late-inning magic to pick up the program’s first wins in nearly three years.
The Wildcats — who haven’t fielded a team since 2019, and lost their opening doubleheader a week ago — rallied for 11 runs in the top of the eighth to defeat Oswego, 13-2.
Then, not satisfied with those fireworks, Marmaton Valley stormed back from an early 9-3 deficit and plated eight in the top of the seventh to win, 17-14.
The splits evens Marmaton Valley’s record at 2-2.
The opener was knotted at 2-2 after seven innings, but Wyatt Ard’s single and triple in the eighth were crucial blows for the Wildcats, who also took advantage of five walks and three hit batters in the frame.
Dylan Drake doubled and scored MV’s first run in the second inning. The Wildcats strung together five singles in the fifth, but could only score once to knot the score after Oswego had taken a 2-1 lead.
Ard paced the offense with two singles and a triple. Carter Burton had three singles, while Quincy Adams and Dominic Smith each singled twice. Drake had a double, Robert Cook a single.
Both offenses were clicking at high gear in the nightcap. Marmaton Valley scored an early run when Adams walked and scored to lead off the game. Kolby Knavel did the same in the third, and Dominic Smith had a leadoff double to score the third run in the fourth.
Problem was, Oswego put up five runs in the third to lead 7-2. Two more runs in the third extended the Indians’ lead to 9-3. But a Burton double, a single to Smith and a double to Ard set the stage for a four-run rally in MV’s fifth inning. Drake followed with a single, Daniel Fewins doubled and Knavel had a single to make it 9-7.
The Wildcats tacked on two more in the sixth on singles to Burton, Chase Smith, Ard, Dominic Smith and Drake for two more runs.
Still, Marmaton Valley trailed 13-9 headed to the seventh.
But Fewins walked to lead off the frame, and Knavel smacked a 3-0 pitch for a two-run home run to begin the fun. Burton and Chase Smith had back-to-back doubles. Ard doubled two batters later before Dominic Smith and Drake each singled. Fewins reached on a walk and scored the final run of the game.
Burton had two doubles and a single, Chase Smith had two singles and two doubles, Ard had a single and two doubles, Dominic Smith chipped in with a single and two doubles. Drake went 4-for-5 with two singles and two doubles. Fewins doubled. Knavel had a home run and two singles.
The Wildcats racked up 19 hits in the game.
Marmaton Valley travels to Yates Center Friday.
