Brandon Horn comes through in hero’s style
MIDLAND, MI – The New York Gremlins and left-handed pitcher Andrew Kirkpatrick needed just one out to advance to the final three of the ISC World Tournament.
But Brandon Horn ruined all that with a clutch, two-out, two-run single into short centerfield that gave the Jarvis Travelers a come-from-behind 5-4 victory, Saturday morning.
The win moves the Travelers (5-1) – and the reigning and two-time defending champions – just one game away from the championship game. But first they must beat the Pennsylvania PA Power in the losers bracket final.
The ISC’s No. 1 ranked Gremlins finish the tournament in fourth place with a 4-2 record. Kirkpatrick, the ace of the staff, had a fine tournament with a 2-2 mark.
Against the Travelers, Kirkpatrick dug himself a hole by hitting Freddie Terkelsen, who led off the seventh. Tryon Bartotillo then slapped a single between shortstop and third base hole, putting runners first and second.
Ryan Boland followed by laying down a perfect sacrifice bunt along the first baseline, moving Terkelsen and Bartoltillo to second and third.
Kirkpatrick appeared he might escape the jam by striking out the dangerous Ryan Wolfe looking on a beautiful drop ball that nicked the outside corner. That brought up Horne. And he didn’t waste any time, hitting Kirkpatricks’ first pitch solidly for the game-winner.