What a finish Saturday night in Overland Park as the Butler Grizzlies advance to the final four of the Region VI Tournament after a walk-off victory over Fort Scott in the final game of the Region VI Sub-Regional.
"Our guys just kept grinding," said head coach BJ McVay, "when we got down, we kept battling back. They played hard and kept their heads in it all weekend long. We had a lot of guys that got to play and helped us win. It really was a great team effort all weekend long."
Cache Stone was the victim of a dog pile by his teammates at third base after hitting a two RBI walk-off triple in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night in the final game of the Region VI Sub-Regional as Butler defeated the Greyhounds 15-14.
The Grizzlies didn't' get the start they wanted on Thursday morning as they fell to the Greyhounds losing 12-1 in a seven-inning run-rule. The Grizzlies would respond in a big way defeating Garden City 6-4 Thursday night to stay alive. Again, the Grizzlies had an answer on Friday evening as they won over Johnson County in a 14-9 game that saw Noah Argenta provide the insurance the Grizzlies needed in the top of the ninth as he hit a grand slam to take a five-run lead. Zach Nagel closed it out in the bottom striking out to and forcing a pop out and Butler knocked off the No. 13 team in the nation out of the tournament.
Butler still had a tough task in front of them having to defeat Fort Scott twice on Saturday to keep their season alive. They did just that winning game one 6-5 and game two 15-14, both in come from behind wins.
Playing five games in three days is already tough enough, but when the season is on the line, you find a way to battle through and get it done.
"After losing that first game loss, your back is against the wall each game after that and you have to make decisions earlier in the game because it is now win or go home," added McVay. "Games are a little more planned out in regard to pitching instead of going with the flow because you don't have as many arms later in the weekend."
It wasn't easy Saturday as the Grizzlies trailed in both games. Game one saw Butler taking a quick 2-0 lead but a four spot in the sixth by the Hounds gave them a 5-2 lead. Butler responded with a four-run seventh inning with a homerun from Cache Stone to start off the inning and then a three-run Josh Cameron homerun gave Butler back the lead, 6-5 and were six outs away from the win. Braxton Hyde struck out the side in the top of the eight and Zach Nagel did what Zach Nagel does closing it out in the ninth as Butler picked dup the 6-5 nail biter win.
Game two saw the Grizzlies trail by 5-0 early, but the bats came alive in the second and third tying it up at 5-5 after three in the winner take all final game. Sam Siegel hit a two RBI double tying the game in the third. Fort Scott took back the lead in the fifth plating two but again, the Grizzlies had an answer as they scored five in the bottom half off of RBI's from Tanner Leslie, Jonah Cox and Bryce Zimmerer taking the 10-7 lead. Butler extended their lead in the sixth with a two-run homerun from Jaren Jackson but the Hounds wouldn't go away. They regained the lead for the third time in the game in the top of the eighth as they scored five runs with two outs taking a 14-13 lead. Butler was held scoreless in the bottom half of the eighth as the game headed into the final stanza.
After a throwing error over Siegel's head at first base, Josh Cameron fielded the ball in right and fired home as Noah Argenta placed the tag on the Greyhound runner coming home. Braxton Hyde then proceeded to strikeout two batters with the bases loaded giving the Grizzlies a fighting chance in the bottom of the ninth.
Argenta reached on an infield single to start the inning. Siegel tried to bunt the runner around but struck out swinging. Jaren Jackson hit a single to right putting two on with one out. It was then Cache Stone, who hit a sinking line drive to right that got past the right fielder scoring two and walking off the game winning 15-14.
With the win, Butler advances to the final four of the Region VI Championship and Central District Playoffs in Salina this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. They will play Colby on Thursday at 1:00pm at Dean Evans Field in Salina, KS.
The last time the Grizzlies were in the final four of the Region VI Tournament was during the 2015 season.