Announcement
Darkness and Whitehall Prevail over the Trojans In Extra Innings
It was Senior Night at the Parkland High School Baseball Stadium. As celebratory balloons danced in the breeze the 9 Trojan seniors took the field with their parents for the last time. As photos were taken, players gave their fathers autographed baseballs and bouquets of flowers went to each mom. The words from the field announcer extolled the accomplishments of each player as they received a nice round of applause for both their on and off the field accomplishments. A few tears were shed as families recalled all the time their boys had spent on the diamond over the years preparing to become Trojans. Then it was game time.
The Trojans took an early lead as the 2nd inning saw Austin Mueller (1-4, 2B, 3R, BB) lead off with a double and then back to back singles by Matt Mellinger (3-5, 2RBI, 2R) and Isaac Neal (3-6, RBI) loaded the bases. Kyle Novobilski (1-3, BB, 2RBI) then drove in the first run of the game on a fielder’s choice which scored Mueller. Ryan Giovenco (1-1, BB, R) singled driving in Mellinger to post a 2-0 lead.
The third inning again was started up by Mueller who walked. After taking second on a passed ball he scored on another single by Mellinger.
The next two innings saw Whitehall chip away at the Trojans lead and go ahead by a score of 5-3.
The bottom of the 5th was led off with a Tyler Bruno (2-5) double and he advanced to third shortly thereafter. Whitehall made a nice defensive play on a Mueller ground ball in which Bruno was tagged out on a fielder’s choice. The Trojans undeterred, again had back to back singles by Mellinger and Neal which scored Mueller. Novobilski followed with a single of his own to plate Mellinger and tie the game at 5.
The Trojans took the lead in the 6th as Andrew Roth (2-6, R) singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. Cullan Wadsworth (0-3, 2BB) walked and Mueller was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mellinger singled, driving in Roth to give the Trojans a 6-5 lead.
Whitehall tied the game in the top of the 7th leading to extra innings.
The teams played on and as the 11th inning arrived the game was suspended as the umpires deemed that there was not enough light to continue. As the stadium lighting inexplicably stood dormant it was determined that the game would be completed at a later date. Two days later the game was restarted. Adam Smith (1 inn, 0 ER) pitched well after taking over the game from the starter Giovenco (4 2/3 inn, 2K, 2 ER) and reliever Braeden Duff (5 1/3 inn, 1K, 1 ER) but, Whitehall scratched out a run in the top of the 11th to take a 7-6 lead. The Trojans could not even the score in the bottom of the inning. On this evening they could not best Whitehall in what is now known in Parkland Circles as "the game that took three days to finish".
