WALL -- When the heat was on both literally and figuratively, South Wall's Tyler Baker did what was necessary to extend his team's Little League baseball season Monday night.
Baker had multiple big-time plays in a 4-2 victory that eliminated Milltown in the District 3 Tournament. His first impactful play was something he did all by himself - with an inside the park home run - that cut an early deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the first inning.
"I got a curveball, I saw it so I pulled it down the first base line and I just kept running," said Tyler.
He also had a stint on the mound at the top of the third inning to help dig his team out with bases loaded, Baker got the strikeout to prevent a run.
"Tyler's our guy," said South Wall head coach Jeff Baker, who's Tyler dad. "I wanted to save him so he's available should we advance and have. I had planned to have a certain amount of pitches and a certain situation for him to shut things down and then that situation presented itself when the top of the lineup came up... that was the perfect opportunity to bring him in and shut things down."
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South Wall answers back in win-or-go-home game
With its back literally against the Wall, South Wall - also facing potential elimination - came through.
South Wall had a three-run inning in the fourth to close the scoring. The team still has a way to go in the double-elimination tournament - after losing the tournament opener to Toms River, South Wall gets a rematch with the Ocean County rival Tuesday at 7 p.m. The loser exits; the winner will play undefeated Lincroft on Wednesday.
The Section 3 winner goes on to the Little League state tournament.
"We're in battle mode," Coach Baker said. "One pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time and these guys know it. Their backs are against the wall and I think they're responding really well. Toms River is a very strong team."
A big fourth inning for South Wall Little League
In the bottom of the fourth inning is when SW's bats started getting hot at the top of the lineup. Three consecutive batters hit doubles - Baker, Jack Harr and Joe Cocco - and starting pitcher Dustin Zoino also got an RBI single.
"Top of the lineup came on and they did what they're supposed to do," said Coach Baker. "Timely hitting is what wins baseball games. When runners are in scoring position you can't leave 'em out there and they cashed in."
In the final inning and one out left, Milltown began to gain some momentum with two runners on base. A wild pitch from Cocco had catcher Nate Waitzel pick the ball up at the backstop before throwing a dart to third base to get the baserunner out - game over.
"He's a gamer, always has been," the coach said about Waitzel. "I've coached him since he was seven years old. I coach him every single weekend in travel tournaments, throughout the state and the country, he is just a gamer. That is not the first time I seen him end the game or change the game with a defensive play like that."
"It shows that everyone can contribute," said Tyler.
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