Leopards top Pirates, 6-5, in extra innings

Baseball is a game of patience, so it’s not about how you start but how you finish.

Liberty-Eylau edged Pittsburg in their District 15-4A clash at H. E. Markham Field, 6-5.

Gage Stanley’s walk-off single in the eighth inning, drove in Drew Langford for the winning run for the Leopards.

Ben Witterstaetter stole home for L-E on a wild pitch, slicing the Pirate lead to two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, 5-3.

Ethan Brooks drove in Marzavin Riles and Nate Moore for the Leopards, tying the contest at 5-all in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings.

Brooks went 2 for 4 at the dish for the Leopards with 2 RBI and a stolen base in the win.

Moore finished 2 for 2 at the plate with two singles, a stolen base and he also scored two runs for the Liberty-Eylau, while Riles scored twice and stole three bases.

The Pirates got on the board first when Ty Jordan drove in Thomas Taylor and Chris Garcia drove in Braden Pyron, to give Pittsburg the 2-0 lead.

Witterstaetter started on the bump for the Leopards. Witterstaetter went 3 1/3 innings, gave up six hits and struck out one batter.

Chris Garcia added to the Pirates lead, driving in Braden Pyron and Ty Jordan in the top off the fourth inning.

Cam Layton drove in Chris Garcia to give Pittsburg their third run of the inning and a 5-0 lead over the Leopards.

Matthew O’Neal put the Leopards on the board with his sacrifice fly to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning, driving in Nate Moore.

Riles scored the second Leopard run of the inning on a past ball, cutting into the Pirates lead, 5-2.

In the top of the sixth inning, Langford saved a run from the board, snagging a pop-up and throwing out Pyron at the plate to retire the side.

The Leopards are back in action on Friday, hosting cross-town rival Pleasant Grove.

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Jake Jackson and Mason Monts. Ben Witterstaetter, Blake Carter (4) and Ethan Brooks. WP-Carter. LP-Jackson