Festus Walks-Off Farmington To Win 3-2 On KREI & KJFF

Logos courtesy of the schools

(Farmington) Mason Schirmer’s walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh gave the Festus Tigers a 3-2 win over Farmington Friday afternoon.

Festus took the first lead of the game after Hayden Bates tripled in the first inning and scored on a passed ball.

The Tigers threatened again in the second, however, Farmington left fielder Connor Rice made a great throw to get the runner at home.

Farmington nearly evened the score in the top of the fourth, but they stranded two runners in scoring position. Freshman Colby Larkins came through for the Knights in the fifth.

The stalemate didn’t last long, though. In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Festus leadoff hitter Jeremiah Cunningham singled, then Bates was intentionally walked, setting up Tyler Bizzle with a runner in scoring position.

Festus starting pitcher Brayden Montgomery got the no-decision, but he stranded six runners in 4.2 innings. He gave up four hits, one run, two walks and hit two batters while striking out five.

Reliever Cole Skaggs was efficient, throwing just 13 pitches in his first 1.1 innings. But the Knights, down one in the top of the seventh, had a two-out rally with four consecutive singles to left field with Rice providing the game-tying RBI single. Skaggs got the next batter to fly out. Farmington left 11 runners on base in the game.

Festus got down to two outs in the bottom of the inning. Cunningham reached on a fielder’s choice, Bates was again intentionally walked, Bizzle was walked to load the bases, bringing up the clean-up hitting sophomore.

Festus coach Jeff Montgomery said Schirmer was built for a moment like that.

Farmington senior Landon Johnson was tagged the loss, throwing 6.2 innings, giving up six hits, three runs (two earned), three walks, three hit batters while striking out six.
Festus improves to 9-5. Farmington drops to 3-6.

Interview with Jeff Montgomery: