Graders get fancy in walk off win over Grand Lake

• Seven Graders pitchers shut out Mariners over final six innings
• Delas gets the win on the mound and a walk off single
• Riotto goes 3-3 with three singles, three steals, two walks and four runs scored
• Finish season with a 15-22 record pending the outcome of league game

GALION – It was quite a finale for the Galion Graders.

The newest member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League may not have the record of a successful season (15-22), but the Graders did provide Galion with memories that will only grow.

“The big games that we have had with the fireworks and the extra inning win over Lake Erie was just good for Galion. They got to experience good baseball. Our record and our position in the standings may not show, but we have been competitive all year long,” Graders pitching coach Taylor Baker said.

Baker improved to 1-0 while he was in charge as manager Ray Neill had a prior engagement. Given the weather situation this summer, the season was supposed to be over Sunday. But, the Graders pulled out a gutsy win in their last hurrah.

Centerfielder Nicholas Riotto had a big day on the way out. He was on base in all five of his plate appearances. Riotto recorded a career day at the plate with three singles, two walks, three stolen bases and scored four of the Graders five runs in their 5-4 walk off win over the Grand Lake Mariners (18-22).

With a day like that, it was fitting Riotto was involved in the dramatic ending. He reached in the final inning and found his way around to score the winning run when Mark Delas lifted a single that closed out the Graders’ season on a high note.

“He helped himself. He looked good on the mound. I think he went to college as a pitcher but he has been swinging it well for us. He has been our guy that has been solid in the middle of the order and comes up in pressure situations,” Baker said.

Delas, who drove in two of the Graders’ runs, also was the winning pitcher. He took the mound with the game tied in the ninth and retired the Mariners before ending the game by bringing Riotto home.

The optimism for a good ending wasn’t always easy to find.

After starting out the first strong with a 1-0 lead, the Graders gave up two in the second and two in the third to the Mariners. Galion pushed a pair across in the third but went scoreless over the next three innings. The Graders tied it up in the seventh after Riotto delivered a single, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored a pitch later on a passed ball.

Just as dead as the Graders bats went in the middle innings, the Mariners seemed to forget how to hit as well. The Mariners faced seven different pitchers and were shut out for the last six innings.

“I was glad it ended and did not go into extras. I have no idea who would have come in to throw the 10th,” Baker said.

After Riotto and Delas, Kevin Schrock delivered a single and scored a run, Zach Gunter had an RBI single and Jake Krupar and Tyler Ocker both collected singles.

The Graders have a chance to play again Tuesday after earning the win depending on the outcome of the Cincinnati Steam’s game Monday. The regular season series may have to be made up to determine Cincinnati’s playoff seeding. The Graders finished five games out of the playoff race.

jfurr@gannett.com

419-610-5034

Twitter: @JakeFurr11