Hart played Canyon today at Canyon. It looked for a while that Hart missed it's best chance to win (or even score) in the 1st inning. With 1 out a single by Matt Valaika was followed by walks to Shane Carlson and Tyler Fick loading the bases. But Canyon pitcher J.T. Adams got 2 strikeouts to end the threat. In fact J.T. Adams struck out 6 men in the first 3 innings (8 overall) then slugged a homer to right in the 4th to put Hart down 1-0. Hart mounted another threat in the 5th. With 1 out Kevin Baker singled, Ryan Gagnon was hit by pitch and Matt Valaika beat out a sacrifice bunt to load the bases. Adams bore down again and got Carlson to hit a comebacker to the mound and got the runner at the plate. Then Tyler Fick bounced out easily to the pitcher to end the inning.

Meantime left hander Tyler Fick was pitching a great game except for the mistake to the left hand hitting Adams. On the game Tyler struck out 11 walked 2, hit 1 batter giving up 4 hits. So it was a pitchers duel, and Hart was making all the noise, but the scoreboard showed them down 1-0. The run drought finally came to an end for Hart in the 6th. Down 1-0, Matt Sreden singled to center, (the first "leadoff" batter for Hart to reach base). Jake Supowit ran for Sreden. Donny Williams and Brian Charnock both sacrificed Supowit to 2nd and then 3rd. Pat Sarkissian who got the game winning hit in the 9th against Canyon in the game on April 8 then singled in Supowit to tie the game up.

Tyler Fick got his 9th strike out to open the 6th, got a popup then walked J.T. Adams. Another popup ended the inning. In the 7th for Hart with the score tied 1-1. Ryan Gagnon led off and was hit by pitch and took 2nd on a grounder to 1st. Shane Carlson then blasted a homer to right center and Hart now led 3-1. The homer was Carlson's 2nd of the season, the 3rd in his career.

Fick took the mound in the bottom of the 7th and promptly hit the first batter, Scott Smith. While Fick proceeded to strike out the next 2 batters, Smith managed to reach 3rd via a passed ball and a wild pitch. Then the most improbable play of the game occurred: With 2 out, Josh Pipho slammed a double to the right center field wall scoring Smith easily. Center fielder Brian Charnock had trouble picking the ball up against the wall, and Pipho turned 2nd and was racing for third. Meanwhile, Charnock hit the cutoff man, Kevin Baker, and Baker whirled and fired towards 3rd where Shane Carlson (playing stellar defense all season) snagged the ball on the short hop and swiftly slapped a tag on Pipho. Pipho over slid the bag, and just in case, Carlson tagged him again while off the bag. Pipho had run his team out of a chance to get the tie, and Hart had the win in the Bag.

Hart is now 13-6-1 (6-3 in the Foothill). Both teams meet again Friday April 29 at Hart at 3:15PM.

Narrative courtesy of Mike Gaber.