Walk-off victory keeps Spartans in divisional driver’s seat
RICHMOND – A seventh-inning rally Tuesday, capped by Jack Gogue’s monster walk-off RBI hit and celebratory bat and helmet flips, put the Spartans a game closer to clinching the Missouri River Valley Conference East Division baseball title.
By scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 win over Lafayette County at Southview Park, Richmond improved to 6-1 in the MRVC East entering Wednesday’s divisional road meeting with Carrollton. After this week, the Spartans have two divisional games remaining – both with Holden, 5-2, after Tuesday’s 16-0 home shellacking of Lexington/Norborne, with three MRVC East games remaining.
“If we can get one from Holden, we really control our own destiny,” Richmond varsity coach Nick Persell said.
Junior Josh Pyle’s leadoff walk sparked the rally that kept Richmond’s title hopes alive. Pyle then stole second base and reached third on senior Spencer Wolf’s bunt single.
“I knew Josh was going to steal (on the) first pitch and I tried to shade…