JT Parish hits walk-off single to give Cambridge home talent the victory over Utica home talent

In a battle between two of the top teams in the Southeast Division, Sunday’s Home Talent League game between Cambridge and Utica came down to the wire.

With the game tied at 3-3, JT Parish hit a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Cambridge Blues, leaders of the Southeast North, a 4-3 win over Utica, leaders of the Southeast South, on Sunday, July 21 at Racetrack Park.

Cambridge held a 2-0 lead after the first six innings. Carter Lund scored Tyler Kledzik on an RBI single in the first, while Connor O’Brien drove in Jake Willey on an RBI groundout in the fifth.

However, in the seventh, Utica rallied with three runs to take a 3-2 lead. In the inning, Tyler Soule hit a two-run double to score Ethan Yahn and Saxton Shore to tie the game. Soule then scored off an RBI single from Connor Kalinowski which gave the A’s the lead.

After a scoreless bottom of the seventh, Lund tied the game at 3-3 for the Blues in the eighth. Lund hit an RBI double to score Chase Jarlsberg.

Cambridge, however, could not score with the bases loaded in that inning, keeping the game tied entering the ninth. In the top of the ninth, Utica then left a runner stranded in scoring position, keeping the game tied entering the bottom of the frame.

In the ninth, O’Brien reached first base on a fielder’s choice. O’Brien then moved to second base on a walk from Kledzik, and with two outs, O’Brien moved to third base on an intentional walk of Lund.

That brought up Parish, who had walked in his previous at-bat in the eighth inning. On a 3-0 pitch, Parish hit the game-winning single that scored O’Brien.

The win clinches a playoff berth for the Blues. Jared Marty earned the win, throwing 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for Parish. Parish earned a no-decision, throwing 6 2/3 innings with four strikeouts.

For Utica, Brock Wanninger took the loss. Wanninger pitched 8 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts.

Cambridge (10-2) closes out the regular season next week. The Blues face Fort Atkinson (7-5) at Cambridge High School on Saturday, July 27 at 1 p.m. and then face McFarland (3-9) at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 28 at the McFarland Baseball Facilities.

Utica (10-2) has also clinched a playoff spot as well. The A’s face Albion on Saturday, July 27 at 1 p.m. and also face Fort Atkinson at 12 p.m. on Sunday, July 28 to close out the regular season. Both games will be played at Utica Field.

SOUTHEAST STANDINGS

X - - clinched playoff spot

NORTH DIVISION

1) Cambridge (X) (10-2 overall, 5-1 division)

2) Jefferson (8-5 overall, 4-3 division)

3) Fort Atkinson (7-5 overall, 5-2 division)

4) McFarland (3-9 overall, 2-4 division)

5) Lake Mills (0-12 overall, 0-6 division)

SOUTH DIVISION

1) Utica (X) (10-2 overall, 6-1 division)

2) Evansville (8-5 overall, 5-2 division)

3) Stoughton (6-7 overall, 2-5 division)

4) Albion (5-7 overall, 2-4 division)

5) Footville (5-8 overall, 2-5 division)