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Madison baseball walks off Page in extras

Eli Estes was outstanding on the hill and so was the defense behind him. All Madison County needed was that one big hit. The Mountaineers got that in the form of a walk-off double from Shane Aylor in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat Page Couny in the Region 2A East quarterfinals.

 

“It was just a very efficient game all the way around the board but I’m also thankful we were able to do this in front of our home crowd,” said Madison coach David Londrey. “It was nice going into extra innings with your leadoff man due up.”

 

Chris Smith led bottom of the eighth off with a single and then Estes was able to bunt Smith into scoring position. With one out, Aylor stepped into the box and delivered the game clinching double.

 

“He was able to put the ball in play and it was hit hard past the third baseman and Chris did a great job of scoring from second,” Londrey said. “That was great, getting that walkoff (celebration).”

 

Before Aylor and Smith’s heroics, the game was all about Estes for Madison. The staff ace threw 84 pitches, struck out four and threw eight innings for a complete game shutout.

 

“He got himself out of trouble all throughout,” Londrey said. “Their leadoff runners kept getting on in the first four innings but we were able to get out of it. It was just a fun game to watch. I thought the boys kept their heads on their shoulders.”

 

In the sixth with a runner on first, the Mountaineers committed an error on a bunt with a throw from third to first, but with the lead Page runner trying to advance to third, Madison’s Isiah Smith got the ball in quickly enough for Chris Smith apply the tag and pick up a huge out.

 

“It turned out to be one of those situations you’re able to take advantage of,” Londrey said. “That was the boys just communicating and working things out and coming up with a big play. And we kept the bunter on first on top of that.”

 

The win puts Madison just one win away from qualifying for the Group 2A tournament for a second time in three years. The Mountaineers host Maggie Walker on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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