High Park was back in action Thursday night taking on the Vaughan Vikings at Vaughan Grove Park in a 7-6 win.
After dropping their opening game of the season to the Vikings, the team was able to tie up the season series. While pushing their record to 4-1 on the season.
The Vikings took an early 1-0 lead and had the bases loaded with one out in the first inning. A two-run error would push the lead to 3-0 for the Vikings, but the damage was limited to that.
A leadoff walk by Michael Cecchetto followed by a Lucas DaSilva single would both come around to score and High Park cut the lead to 3-2 going into the bottom of the second.
High Park starter Jake Sakon gave them what they needed in the second inning – a quick 1-2-3 inning allowing the offence to get back on the sticks.
Jordon Oats lead off the third inning with a bunt single and found himself at third after a two-base error. Oats would score thanks to a Taka Ryan sacrifice fly tying the game. A few batters later Cecchetto would crush a two-run home run to left center field and High Park took a 5-3 lead.
Another quick 1-2-3 inning for High Park and they were in full control going into the fourth inning.
The offence was rolling in the top of the fourth with a leadoff triple from Jacob Linhares followed by a moonshot home run from Marcus Johnston that probably still hasn’t landed. High Park was now up 7-3.
Vaughan would cut the lead to three in their half of the inning. Sakon’s night would come to an end after four innings, giving up four runs (two earned) and left in line to pick up the win.
The fifth inning saw no runs scored for either team. Cam MacPherson came in out of the bullpen and threw a perfect bottom half for High Park with two fly outs and a strikeout.
Another quiet top half for High Park in the sixth and MacPherson was back out for his second inning of work. MacPherson found himself in trouble with the bases loaded and one out. After fighting some command issues earlier in the inning, MacPherson picked up back to back strikeouts to get out with no damage.
The bottom of the seventh saw Matt MacDowell take the mound for High Park in a save situation. MacDowell would allow three of the first four batters to reach base – a walk, two hit-by-pitch – and the score was now 7-5 with one out and the tying run at first base. A sac fly would cut the lead to one. But the tying run was still only at first base.
MacDowell would bare down and strike out the last batter of the game, giving High Park the win and MacDowell his first save of his junior career.
High Park will be back in action Saturday, May 26 when they return home to the Christie Pits at 7 p.m.