Marco Island Academy Walks Off Northridge In 9th Inning

The Rays stand proud and victorious following the long battle against the Northridge Knights. Photo by Jackie Jones from @MarcoIslandAcademy.

Victory always feels fantastic, but there is an extra level of satisfaction and accomplishment when winning was not easy. The Marco Island Academy Rays experienced that joy on Wednesday night, after rallying to an extra-inning victory after a wild and lengthy battle with the Northridge Knights, from Illinois. After giving up two runs in the top of the ninth, the Rays answered back with three runs that sent them off walk-off winners with an 8-7 decision.

The game was estimated to have lasted four hours, as both side slugged it out the whole way through. The two clubs combined for 26 total hits, each having the answer whenever the other put up a crooked number on the scoreboard. The Knights took control early on by jumping out with a 5-0 lead after two innings, but Marco Island (6-6) responded to eventually tie things back up, scoring two runs in the third, another in the fifth and then two more in the sixth that forced extra innings.

Several starters had multiple hits to lead the Rays. Aidan Herzog went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two stolen bases and a run, and he was also hit by a pitch to reach base four times. Grayson Jones also had three hits, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs. Jordan Radden was 2-for-5 with a double, a stolen base, two RBI and a run, and Aidan Karl went 2-for-5 with a double, a stolen base, an RBI and two runs.

The Rays snapped a three-game losing streak, and then got back to .500 following a win over Naples Classical on Friday.

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