DARLINGTON - If patience is truly a virtue, then the Darlington Redbirds probably waited too long to crack its first win against Mineral Point. On Friday, with an overcast sky and cool winds blowing through Otto Ruf field, Darlington played as if the sun was shining brightest.
That's because for the first time ever, the Redbirds knocked off their top baseball rival, 4-3.
"It got a little more exciting than I'd like at the end," Darlington coach Andy Sawall said. "We have never beaten Mineral Point. We've played some really close games that come down to the last half inning and this is the first one we've managed to pull out."
Sawall has been on the coaching staff for seven years - six as the head coach - and had yet to topple one of southwestern Wisconsin's premier programs.
"They've beat us two times a year, sometimes three when it was in playoffs," Sawall said. They were trying "to get a little swing going, turn things around a little bit and see what we can do the next time we face them."
One of the reasons it took Darlington so long to crack the "W" column against Mineral Point was because up until the 2005 season, the Redbirds played in the WIAA's summer league, while the Pointers were a spring club. However, for the past six seasons, both have played in the same season.
"They've ended my season two of the last three years," said senior catcher Colton Hackett, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI. "It's a rivalry and my senior year. You can't hold anything back."
Hackett had perhaps the biggest play of the game right away in the bottom of the first. With runners on first and second and one out, Hackett lined a base hit into center. Mineral Point's center fielder tried to gun down Nick Chiaverotti at the plate, but the ball scooted away from the catcher, allowing another run to score. Hackett rushed down the line, moving to second on the throw home and then gambling on going to third when the ball was kicked around behind home. Mineral Point tried to then get Hackett at third, but the throw flew into left field and Hackett scored easily, making it 3-0.
"It felt like Tee Ball for a little bit," Hackett said.
The 3-run cushion allowed Darlington starting pitcher Wade Black to relax a little bit on the mound.
"It was huge for my confidence. Just knowing that you have that much more support, everyone gets fired up," said Black, who scattered nine hits and five walks in 6 2-3 innings. "I knew as long as I hit my spots I'd be all right."
Black, a senior, and Hackett have been battery-mates at pitcher and catcher since before high school.
"I've caught for him for four or five years, so we're starting to get there," Hackett quipped. "I like what I've seen from him so far this season. He's hitting his spots nice and his breaking ball has been working good. I'm excited for what we've got and I want us to get better (as a team)."
Mineral Point cut the score to 3-1 in the fourth, but Black worked around trouble and left the bases loaded.
Darlington plated what ended up being the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth when Tyler Black scored from third on a wild pitch. Mineral Point scored a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, and made it interesting in the seventh when the Pointers had two men one with two outs.
"I thought Wade did a great job pitching. I would have left him in if it would have been anyone else up to bat, but that kid had three hits already and I wanted him to see someone else," Sawall said.
Brandon Heins struck out the final batter of the game to clinch the win, which was the SWAL Conference opener.
"First conference game and we're 1-0. I'll take it," Sawall said.
That's because for the first time ever, the Redbirds knocked off their top baseball rival, 4-3.
"It got a little more exciting than I'd like at the end," Darlington coach Andy Sawall said. "We have never beaten Mineral Point. We've played some really close games that come down to the last half inning and this is the first one we've managed to pull out."
Sawall has been on the coaching staff for seven years - six as the head coach - and had yet to topple one of southwestern Wisconsin's premier programs.
"They've beat us two times a year, sometimes three when it was in playoffs," Sawall said. They were trying "to get a little swing going, turn things around a little bit and see what we can do the next time we face them."
One of the reasons it took Darlington so long to crack the "W" column against Mineral Point was because up until the 2005 season, the Redbirds played in the WIAA's summer league, while the Pointers were a spring club. However, for the past six seasons, both have played in the same season.
"They've ended my season two of the last three years," said senior catcher Colton Hackett, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI. "It's a rivalry and my senior year. You can't hold anything back."
Hackett had perhaps the biggest play of the game right away in the bottom of the first. With runners on first and second and one out, Hackett lined a base hit into center. Mineral Point's center fielder tried to gun down Nick Chiaverotti at the plate, but the ball scooted away from the catcher, allowing another run to score. Hackett rushed down the line, moving to second on the throw home and then gambling on going to third when the ball was kicked around behind home. Mineral Point tried to then get Hackett at third, but the throw flew into left field and Hackett scored easily, making it 3-0.
"It felt like Tee Ball for a little bit," Hackett said.
The 3-run cushion allowed Darlington starting pitcher Wade Black to relax a little bit on the mound.
"It was huge for my confidence. Just knowing that you have that much more support, everyone gets fired up," said Black, who scattered nine hits and five walks in 6 2-3 innings. "I knew as long as I hit my spots I'd be all right."
Black, a senior, and Hackett have been battery-mates at pitcher and catcher since before high school.
"I've caught for him for four or five years, so we're starting to get there," Hackett quipped. "I like what I've seen from him so far this season. He's hitting his spots nice and his breaking ball has been working good. I'm excited for what we've got and I want us to get better (as a team)."
Mineral Point cut the score to 3-1 in the fourth, but Black worked around trouble and left the bases loaded.
Darlington plated what ended up being the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth when Tyler Black scored from third on a wild pitch. Mineral Point scored a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, and made it interesting in the seventh when the Pointers had two men one with two outs.
"I thought Wade did a great job pitching. I would have left him in if it would have been anyone else up to bat, but that kid had three hits already and I wanted him to see someone else," Sawall said.
Brandon Heins struck out the final batter of the game to clinch the win, which was the SWAL Conference opener.
"First conference game and we're 1-0. I'll take it," Sawall said.
