Wise County Messenger Online

The adjective to the word "clutch" is defined in the dictionary as: Something done or accomplished in a critical situation: Dependable in clutch situations.

Decatur's Zach Gage, the No. 9 hitter in the batting order, might as well have his picture alongside the definition. The junior, who was 0-2, came through in the clutch at home Tuesday night against nemesis Bridgeport to lead the Eagles to a 3-2 victory.

With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, Gage had the biggest hit of his varsity career. After Tyler Robbins got on base by an error and stole second base, Gage ripped a walk-off single to center field to win the game and send the team and the crowd into celebration.

Gage's game-winning hit not only gave Decatur a trip to the Class 3A playoffs, but it also ended Bridgeport's surprising run for a postseason spot. Both teams were tied for the final playoff berth going into the game.

Decatur wrapped up District 8-3A play with an 8-6 record while moving to 16-12 overall. The Bulls finished their best season under coach John Ward at 7-7 and 11-15.

The Eagles will face the second-place team from District 7-3A next week in the bi-district round of the playoffs. They were scheduled to play a warm-up game this weekend but details were not available at press time.

The Bulls got the kind of start they needed to have a chance at knocking off DHS. Pitcher Mason Bridwell pitched two scoreless innings to start things off and allow his team to take the first lead of the night.

Corbin Green lined a lead-off single to left field and later scored on a single by Cameron Green and the first of four Decatur errors to make it a 1-0 ball game.

Bryant Daniel smacked a two-out single to centerfield to score Cameron Green and make it a 2-0 contest. James Kilpatrick, who was hit by a pitch, tried to score on the play as well, but Andrew Gage but a spectacular throw to home where catcher Ryan Cangley made the tag and ended the inning.

The Eagles did not trail for long as they posted two runs in the bottom half of the inning to even things up again. Andrew Gage helped make things happen when he led off with a single.

Two outs later Colton Cangley took his turn at the plate where he fouled off 13 pitches. After battling Bridwell for 10 minutes, he finally got what he wanted when he crushed a shot over 350 feet which sailed over the right-center field wall for a two-run home run to tie the game at 2-2.

It was a pitcher's duel the rest of the way. Decatur's Colton Cangley got better as the game went on and retired six consecutive batters.

DHS's Chad Harrison, who made several big defensive plays at first base, pounded out a pair of doubles but was stranded on both occasions.

Bridwell did not give the Eagles much of a chance either. The showdown on the hill led to three scoreless innings which left the score knotted at 2-2 going into the final inning where Gage came through in the clutch.

"We lost in one of the best played games of the year. Only an unearned run in the last inning was the margin of difference in this one," said Ward. "A great effort was put forth by all my guys."

This was the fourth time in district play that Bridgeport lost in a road game that was tied in the last inning.

District 8-3A
Team Overall Dist.
Sanger 21-7 12-2
Argyle 18-6 12-2
Decatur 16-12 8-6
Bridgeport 11-13 7-7
Whitesboro 11-13 4-10
Pilot Point 7-22 4-10
Bowie 9-17 5-9
Gainesville 9-17 3-11