Law, Smith, Rebar lead never-say-die Ponies to yet another dramatic comeback win

Law, Smith, Rebar lead never-say-die Ponies to yet another dramatic comeback win


Foxcroft, Maine - Hunter Law’s line shot into the left-center gap with the bases loaded and no outs delivered the Foxcroft Academy Ponies a 7-6 win over the Mount Desert Island Trojans in a Class B quarterfinal matchup at Foxcroft Academy. The game-winning hit for Law, who finished 3-5 with 5 RBI and made several outstanding plays in left field, gave the Ponies their second come-from-behind, extra-inning walk-off win in three days (and third walk-off win of the year). Big brother Forrest Law ended Tuesday’s 4-3 win over Ellsworth with a double to deep left field.

Kaleb Smith earned the win on the mound for FA with four outstanding innings of relief. He took over for starter Jesse Provost in the fifth, with the Ponies trailing 5-4 at the time,  and limited the Trojans to two hits, no walks, and one unearned run over the final four frames.

Smith also went 2-3 at the plate and scored three runs, including the game winner. He led off the eighth with a sharp single up the middle off Jon Phelps, who pitched five strong innings in relief of starter Steve Hanscom, and moved to second after a walk to leadoff hitter Caleb Richard. Tom Paoloa relieved Phelps in a very tough spot and issued a walk to Ryan Rebar after an eight-pitch battle. The stage was set for Law, who laced Paoloa’s 0-1 offering into the gap.

MDI jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth after Nick Shaw walked, stole second, advanced to third on a deep fly out, and scored while Dylan Carroll was in a rundown between first and second after being intentionally picked off.

FA roared back with three runs in the bottom of the innings. Richard opened with a walk, Rebar (3-3 with two walks) singled, and Law made it 2-1 with a sharp double into the left-field corner. Law scored on an error three plays later to give the Ponies a two-run advantage.

MDI got a run back in the second when Cam Crawford doubled to deep center field with two outs, scoring Colin Mooers all the way from first.

FA came right back and added another run in the bottom half of the second when Smith singled, advanced to second on an error, moved to third on a walk to Rebar, and scored on a one-out grounder to short from Law.

MDI chipped away with another single run in the third when Mooers drove home Caleb McDonald with a two-out single and took the lead in the fourth when Ben Walls followed an intentional walk to McDonald with a two-run, two-out single. The Trojans extended their lead in the fifth when Trevor Alley scored on an error.

The score remained 6-4 until the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and nobody on, Smith and Richard drew walks in front of Rebar, who then scored Smith with a hard ground ball just inside the third base line. Law followed with a flare over shortstop Nick Shaw’s head. Shaw leapt and nearly made a play for the ages, but the ball came loose when he crashed to the ground and the hustling Richard was able to score from second to knot things at six. Cameron Fadley followed with a line shot to the right side, but Crawford was able to spear it to end the rally.

Crawford (3-4, run), Shaw (2-4, RBI, two runs), and Mooers (2-4, RBI, run) had multiple hits for the Trojans, who finish up the 2012 season at 10-8.

Law, Rebar, and Smith carried FA’s offense, combining to go 8-11 with six RBI and five runs scored. Matt Chapman had the Ponies’ only other hit and also made a sensational diving catch in right field to end the seventh.

FA improves to 13-5 with the win and will host Camden Hills at 1:00 on Saturday in a semifinal matchup.

Photos taken by John You '13.