Lake Norman Publications

BASEBALL PLAYOFFS: Knights walk it off against Crest



North Lincoln senior Landon Reeves recorded a pair of hits and scored a run as the Knights beat Crest 2-1 in the second round of the 3A West state playoffs. /Matt Chapman

PUMPKIN CENTER – A walkoff win to advance in the playoffs is special no matter the circumstances, so when Logan Sammons worked a free pass with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a 2-1 North Lincoln victory over Crest, the entire Knights roster bolted from the home dugout and raced across the diamond to mob the sophomore for a party at first base.

While both teams’ aces pitched in round one Tuesday, North Lincoln’s Kellen Karr and Crest starting pitcher Colby Humphries were each dominant while working into the seventh inning of a tight ballgame. 

Humphries allowed just one hit through four innings until Landon Reeves led off the bottom of the fifth with an infield single. Reeves then stole second and eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch before crossing home plate for the game’s first run on a Reece Moody base hit. 

Karr, a freshman, followed up with a shutdown inning for the Knights, striking out the side to notch a sixth scoreless frame on the mound. The southpaw found himself one out away from a complete-game shutout, but was pulled for closer Matt Heavner after a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs.

While working to the No. 9 batter in the Chargers’ lineup, a passed ball escaped to the backstop behind home plate allowing the tying run to score from third. Heavner recorded a strikeout on the very next pitch to keep the game tied 1-1.

The bottom of the order set the table for the Knights (19-5) in the home half of the seventh, with Nate Lykins working a one-out walk and Timmy Schafer keeping the line moving with a single. Humphries was pulled from the game after working 6.1 innings with runners on first and second base and Heavner due up for North Lincoln. 

Heavner smoked an infield single that glanced off the shortstop’s glove to load the bases and Sammons played the role of hero by staying within himself and taking ball four to walk it off and send the Knights to the third round of the 3A West playoffs. 

North Lincoln, the No. 5 seed in the playoff bracket, will travel to No. 4 West Henderson Tuesday, May 17.

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