By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School baseball team rallied from a 10-0 deficit to beat visiting McComb 12-11 in a non-league thriller on a cold Tuesday, April 15.

The Pirates improved to 4-4 with the improbable victory, while the Panthers fell to 1-6 after the tough loss.

McComb pushed nine runs across the plate in the top of the third inning to build a seemingly commanding 10-0 lead.

The Pirates got back in contention with five runs in the home half of the fourth. Both teams tallied single runs in the fifth to keep the Panthers on top, 11-6.

Bluffton scored three runs in the sixth to inch within 11-9. The Pirates then tallied three more runs in the bottom of the seventh as they finished the unlikely comeback on Landen Worcester’s walk-off single, 12-11.

The Pirates out-hit the Panthers 10-9, but made five errors compared to one miscue by McComb. Bluffton also drew 11 walks. 

Senior Worcester led the offense with two hits and two runs.

Pirate senior Quinn Eachus drove in four runs with one hit and a walk. Sophomore Dylan Painter doubled, hit a single, scored three runs and walked once. Sophomore Nathan Speicher doubled, scored a run and had one RBI.

Sophomore Blayne Hill stroked a run-scoring single and scored twice. Freshman Jake Weaver contributed a single, one run and an RBI. 

Junior Robby Taylor amassed a hit, two runs and two RBI. Evan Speicher added a single.

Hill earned the win in relief for Bluffton. He pitched one hitless inning with a strikeout. Taylor gave up two earned runs in 2.1 innings on five hits and two walks.

Keaton Howbert hurled 2.1 innings of three-hit baseball. He allowed no earned runs while striking out four and walking one.

Worcester pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless ball. He allowed a hit and a walk while whiffing two.

Bluffton scored all 12 of its runs in the final four innings.

Panther Luke Kern hit a triple and drove in three runs for McComb. 

The Pirates are at Ottoville (1-6) April 16, then play their league opener at winless Delphos Jefferson (0-9, 0-2 NWC) Thursday, April 17.

WP-Hill

2B-N. Speicher (B), Hill (B)

3B-Kern (M)