MOUNT VERNON — Down by three to their rival and Ohio Capital Conference title contender, the Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets faced a pitcher who happens to be the defending Division I All-Ohio Player of the Year.
Somehow, it all came together for the Jackets.
Mount Vernon rallied for two runs in the sixth and three runs in the seventh, earning a 6-5 walk-off home victory and sending the Delaware Hayes Pacers home in stunned silence.
The Yellow Jackets (3-6, 1-2 OCC) actually trailed by the score of 5-1 going into the sixth inning. But, after a two-run sixth, Mount Vernon had to rally against Hayes’ Jacob Bosiokovic, who came in for relief. After a strikeout, Eric Ashbrook reached base when he was struck by a pitch. Riley Swanson hit a double, putting runners on second and third.
That set the stage for Kory Shackle, who hit a bouncing ball that sailed over the shortstop. Both runners came in to tie the game.
“I can’t really describe the feeling,” said Shackle. “Delaware is our rival. I definitely wanted to beat them. When we came in and I was up, I was ready to go.
“(Bosiokovic) is a good pitcher. Last year he threw me a few curveballs. I was hoping he would start with one and, when he did, I knew he would come back with a fastball.”
Shawn Maxwell drove Shackle to second. Billy Jackson, with two outs, came up and smacked a fastball to the outfield to score Shackle and win the game.
