On Saturday afternoon the Lakeview Bulldogs baseball team took on Newton Falls in a non-conference matchup. The Bulldogs came into the game after a tough 1-0 loss to conference rival South Range, and looked to bounce back after losing 2 in a row.

As the game started the Bulldogs were off to a slow start instantly gong down 2-0 in the first inning, Lakeview had no answer in the bottom of the first scoring 0 runs, the second inning was not much better as the Bulldogs fell to 5-0 but finally having an answer scoring 1 run in the bottom of the second.

Then the struggles continued for the Bulldogs giving up 8 runs in the top of the 3rd falling to a 13-1 deficit, luckily for them the run rule affect doesn’t kick in until the 5th inning. They would be down 13-2 going into the top of the 4th.

Newton Falls scored 0 in the top of the 4th giving the Bulldogs life and they would take advantage of the opportunity and score 2 runs making it a 13-4 ballgame and the run rule affect was out of the picture.

Lakeview would score 6 runs total in the 5th and 6th inning as Newton Falls scored just 2 as they headed into the 7th, the Bulldogs would be down 15-11.

Newton Falls would score a run in top the 7th making it 16-11 making the comeback for the Bulldogs even tougher than they needed. But that was no problem as they would rack up 6 runs in the last inning and would win by a walk-off single by the hero Cal Rinck that would score 2 runs and give the Bulldogs the much needed victory.

Both teams would end the game in double digits in the hit column but it was Lakeview that had 19 hits that’s pushed them to the victory.

I talked with Senior Cal Rinck about the comeback win and he had this to say “It was just such a great feeling to win this game, Newton Falls was chirping the whole game thinking they had it won but we don’t quit and we fought are way back and won the game.” 

I asked Rinck about his walk off hit he said, “It felt amazing, it felt like I was in the MLB it was such a great feeling. I got down 2 strikes and usually other people in that situation would be nervous but I knew I just had to relax and sit back on the next pitch and I did exactly that.” 

That victory would give Lakeview a 7-3 record and a great win to push their momentum as they play Poland at home on Tuesday.

I talked to Junior Tyler Capan who was a key part to the comeback about how this victory can help push the momentum, “It helps a lot, when we went down 13-1 no one was like we are out of this game we all knew this game wasn’t over and we knew we were gonna win. That’s why I love this team because there is no quit in anybody. But yeah this win help push are momentum as we go to Poland in a big conference matchup.”

The Bulldogs have 9 games remaining on their schedule and have a very good shot to make a deep run in the playoffs with a great senior and junior group of boys.