Ports Show Who is No Good in Walk-off Win

Ports Softball Starts Season 1-0

STOCKTON, Calif.-After a rocky start, the Ports Softball team staged a tremendous 14-13 come-from-behind victory against No Good at Louis Park on Tuesday night in their fall softball season opener.

Mark Mendes finished the game 4x4 with a double and four RBI, including the game-winning RBI in the seventh inning. Zack Mennie and Luke Reiff each had three hits in the contest, in which the Ports totaled 18 hits.

No Good scored four runs in the first inning to take an early lead. The Ports made it 4-2 with two runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Mennie singled to jumpstart the Ports offense. He was put out at second in the next at-bat, as No Good tried to turn a double play, but Reiff was safe at first as the second baseman overthrew the ball. Mendes then doubled to drive home both runs.

No Good pulled ahead, 8-2, in the top of the second. After issuing a walk, a hit and a walk to load the bases, Ports pitcher Justin Gray gave up a two-RBI double. The next batter reached on a fielder's choice, as the Ports tried to make a play at the plate. The run scored as catcher Kyle Osgood had to move in front of the plate to catch the ball. The following batter hit into a fielder's choice for the first out of the frame, which allowed the eighth No Good run to score. After issuing another walk, the Ports retired the next two batters.

The Ports piled on four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Osgood reached on an error by the second baseman. Vic Zapien, who played in place of Ben Carr, popped out for the second out of the inning. John Watts and Mennie hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Reiff then stepped up to the plate and knocked home two runs on a double. Shortstop Kyle DeWitt brought home two more runs on a single. Mendes followed with a single to put runners on first and second with two out. Second baseman Ethan Bagen then flew out to right field to end the inning.

No Good made it 9-6 in the fourth, on an RBI single, and went ahead 10-6 in the top of the fifth.

The Ports got their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Osgood led off with a single, and moved to third on a double by Zapien. Watts flew out for the first out of the inning. Mennie got on base on a fielder's choice, as the opponents tried to putout a runner. With the bases loaded, Reiff drove home a run with a single. DeWitt brought home a run with a walk. Mendes picked up his third RBI of the game on a single. Bagen made it 11-10 with a two-RBI single. Right fielder Sam Harold was called out on a dead ball, and Bagen was put out at second to end the inning.

No Good added three more runs to regain the lead in the top of the sixth. The Ports made it 13-12 in the bottom of the sixth. First baseman Tim Pasisz walked to lead off the inning, and was replaced on the basepaths by Sam Harold. After third baseman Zach Sharkey fouled out to the No Good catcher, Justin Gray doubled. With runners on first and third and one out, Osgood brought home another Ports run on a groundout.

The Ports retired the No Good offense in order in the seventh, to keep the Ports within two runs. The Ports came right back to battle in the bottom of the seventh. The first three batters singled to load the bases. DeWitt hit a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield, allowing Watts to score the tying run. Mendes then stepped up to the plate and drove a deep single, allowing Mennie to cross the plate as the winning fourteenth run.

The walk-off victory gave the Ports their first win in the season, setting them on the winning path for the season.

The Ports will be taking on the Faith Assembly of God on Tuesday, September 22 at 8:10 p.m. at the southwest field at Louis Park.