Knights Win 2 out of 3 at Atlanta Summer Super NIT

Game Face - George Krivsky threw a gem on the mound with a 7 inning
Complete Game 4 hitter.
 

The Marietta Knights picked up another 2 great wins against quality opponents at the Atlanta Summer Super NIT. They started the tournament at Wyomia Tyus Park in Griffin against the Home Plate Chilidogs. Although they have a peculiar name, the Home Plate organization is known for putting out very good baseball teams and the Knights were in for a battle. Home Plate took an early 1-0 lead on 2 Knights errors in the 1st and they put 2 singles together in the 3rd for a 2-0 lead.

The Knights hit the ball hard but the Home Plate OF was fast and they seemed to run down everything the Knights hit. And when the ball did get down, HP held the Knights to a single base. In the 3rd, the Knights used 4 singles from Nathan Brooks, Jack Vargo, Hunter Williamson and George Krivsky to cut the lead to 2-1 but they left the bases loaded.

Thankfully, George kept the Knights in the game with a brilliant outing on the mound. George threw a complete game and spread out just 4 hits and 1 BB over 7 innings. He also had 6 assists from the mound. In the 3rd, George fielded a comebacker and threw out the lead runner trying to score and tagged the very next baserunner out at the plate on a perfect flip from Catcher Austin Hansell. The 2 outs at the plate would be huge.

Gil Hastings ripped a 2B to LCF in the 5th that pushed Jack Vargo to 3rd. Jack stole home on a passed ball to tie things up at 2 and Gil scored on a balk a couple of pitches later and suddenly the Knights were in front 3-2. George took care of the rest, stranding HP runners on 2nd and 3rd in the 6th. George closed out the 7th 1-2-3 with 2 comebackers to the mound and a called 3rd strike to end it. Knights 3 Home Plate 2.

The Knights celebrate 2 exciting 1 run Victories!

Game 2 would be another pitcher's duel against the Timber Jacks and once again the Knights would get down early as the Timber Jacks put up 2 in the top of the 1st. Once again, Jack led off the game for the Knights with a hit and a steal and he scored on George's RBI single to make it 2-1. The Jacks added a run in the 2nd but the Knights held pace with a run of their own to make it 3-2. Austin Hansell doubled and Nathan Brooks, who's been swinging a hot bat, knocked him in with a single.

Cody Hahn finished his day on the mound with a scoreless 4th. Cody struck out 4 in 3 IP. Hunter came on in the 4th and pitched 2 scoreless innings and Gil threw scoreless 6th. The Knights needed some magic trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the 6th. Cody and Jack led off the inning with walks, Gil reached on a FC that sent Jack to the dugout and Hunter walked to load the bases. Cody broke on a passed ball and slid into home just ahead of the tag to tie the game. After the Knights dugout exhaled, they went crazy in welcoming Cody back to the dugout. The very next pitch also got away from the Timber Jack's catcher and Gil took off, sliding into home well ahead of the ball and the Knights had an exciting come from behind 4-3 win and Pool Championship.

As #1 seed coming out of their pool, the Knights would travel to South Walton Park in Social Circle for game 3 of the tournament against the Georgia Tigers. It was a tough game that was unfortunately dominated by poor umpiring. The UIC crew did a poor job and ejected a Knights player who, by the umpire's admission simply putting his hands on his helmet after a bad call and never said anything to the umpire. The ejection caused the Knights to have to play with 8 and take an automatic out once every time through the order. Of course, after the player ejection, Coach Rob was ejected shortly thereafter but he made sure to earn his ejection. The shorthanded Knights played hard but fell thanks mostly to the automatic outs. The highlight of the day was that Coach Rob and Hunter had a very nice post game Southern meal at the Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle.