Haro walk off HR lifts Wildcats to opening night win

Woodland’s Marco Haro blasted a two-out, three-run, walk-off home run over the left field wall Thursday night to lift the Wildcats to an opening night 6-5 win over Mount Pisgah Christian at The Ballpark at Woodland. Trailing 5-3 and down to their final out, Toby Queen was hit by a pitch and Bailey Ward singled into centerfield to bring Haro to the plate.

The visiting Patriots grabbed a 2-0 lead through three innings before Woodland scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth. PHOTO: Wildcats celebrate as Haro touches plate.

Tyler Strickland scored on an error as a courtesy runner for Ward and Zach Wilson drove in a run with a liner into centerfield. Mount Pisgah regained the lead in the top of the fifth, but the Wildcats tied it again at 3-3 in the bottom of the frame. Peyton Posey doubled and later scored on a Phoenix Cramer groundout.

The Patriots went ahead 5-3 in the top of the seventh on walk, a sacrifice bunt, a double, and a passed ball. Sam Love and James Addaman had two hits each to lead Mount Pisgah. One of Addaman’s hits was a double.

Ben Ammons (2 IP, 2R, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 4K) was Woodland’s pitching winner in relief of starter Koby Stansel (5 IP, 3ER, 6H, 4BB, 6K).

Davis Thomason (0.2 IP, 3ER, 2H, 0BB, 1K) suffered the pitching loss for the Patriots in relief of starter Reed Rothermel (6 IP, 3R, 1ER, 5H, 1BB, 7K).

Ward was the only Wildcat with two hits. Wilson drove in a run with one hit. Ammons and Posey each contributed a double. Queen had a hit and Haro had the three-run dinger. Woodland (1-0) will complete the home-and-home series with Mount Pisgah Monday in Johns Creek.