Washington snapped a four game losing streak on Monday as it topped Wilson Independent 12-9 in true summer league fashion.
The Pam Pack trailed 1-0 before jumping out to a 6-1 lead, then proceeded to lose that advantage before rallying from a 9-6 deficit to take the win.
Washington pitcher Christian Lambert, who was in line to take the loss when he couldn’t hold on to a 6-5 lead upon entering the game in the top of the sixth, ended up picking up the win when he reentered the contest later that inning.
If that wasn’t bizarre enough, there was also a straight steal of home, an umpire hurt by a foul tip, the Wilson manager was tossed in the sixth, the two teams a tallied 19 walks and at one point three straight Reds batters were plunked by pitches.
“Well, it’s a summer game, I’ve seen them a whole bunch of different ways,” Washington coach Matt Burnett said.
Wacky or not, Washington was just happy to be able to turn out the lights and head home with a win.
“It feels good. I really challenged these guys after our last game to come out here and have a better approach to the game,” Burnett said. “Coming into tonight we had three games left (on the CCSSL schedule) and I really wanted them to go after it, and our guys really responded to the challenge.”
After an Avery Woolard RBI double in the first tied the game at one apiece, the Pam Pack (5-9) was able to take a 6-1 lead thanks to a five-run second inning. Washington went up 2-1 when Will Phelps drew a bases loaded walk, then went up 3-1 after Wilson balked in a run. The lead grew to 5-1 after Will Swain scored on a wild pitch and Devon Van Cura crossed the plate on a delayed steal. Woolard would drive in the final run of the inning with a sac fly.
Woolard finished the game leading the Pack by going 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs, but also hit three straight batters when he made an appearance on the mound in the sixth inning.
Phelps, who started the game on the hill and threw 3 2/3 innings, had a lot off success with his off-speed pitches as he struck out seven batters. At the plate, Phelps went 1-2 with a key two-run double late in the game.
Jody Arnold took the ball after Phelps and threw 1 1/3 innings before handing the ball off to Lambert, who pitched to a few batters before Woolard came on in relief of him. Woolard would eventually give the ball back to Lambert to close out the game, as the CCSSL permits pitchers to leave and come back again.
Wilson cut the lead to 6-5 when it rallied for four runs in the fourth, then took the lead with another four-run rally in the sixth.
The Pam Pack would counter later that inning as it produced six runs to recapture the lead. Austin Mitchell smacked an RBI single before both Jordan Moore and Swain drew bases loaded walks to tie the game at nine. Phelps delivered the knockout punch as he smashed a two-run double that traveled all the way to the left field fence.
The action paused shortly after that as the home plate umpire was struck by a foul ball. When the action resumed, Washington didn’t miss a beat as Will Swain stole home on the first pitch after the break to make it a 12-9 game.
The key for Washington, who amassed only five hits, was a patient approach at the plate that allowed them to get 13 free bases.
“We are going to take an approach at the plate where we want to get into favorable hitter’s counts,” Burnett said. “We want as many 2-0s and 3-1s as we can, and if we are not going to get the pitch we want to drive then we’re going to be patient and get guys on base.”
Washington will wrap up CCSSL play tonight when it host East Wake at 7 p.m.

Wilson Independent    010    404    0    —    9    10    2
Washington    015    006    X    —    12    5    2
WP: Christian Lambert; LP: Chris Graham
Hitting: WI – Darin Huff 1-3 (RBI), Travis Ricks 1-3 (RBI), Bradley Jackson 1-3, Matt Brinson 1-4, John Abrams 4-4 (3 RBI), Griffin Darner 1-3 (RBI), Tripp Bissett 1-2; W – Austin Mitchell 1-4 (RBI, 2 R), Will Phelps 1-2 (3 RBI, 2B), Forrest Hawkins 1-3, Avery Woolard 2-3 (2 RBI), Brandon Cherry 1-2 (R, 2B).