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Rugar, Eagles rally for big win

Youngsville’s Wyatt Rugar had a monster game in a comeback win over Iroquois.

It was a huge day for Wyatt Rugar and the Youngsville baseball team.

The Eagles scored nine runs in the final two innings – three in the fifth and six in the sixth, coming back from a 7-0 deficit to earn their first win of the season, 9-7 over Iroquois on Tuesday.

Rugar was all over the field for the Eagles, going 3-for-4 with five RBI and two triples, while also pitching six brilliant innings on the mound, striking out seven.

“Wyatt Rugar came up big with a couple of triples and pitched a heck of a game,” said Youngsville assistant coach Dave Rose. “We put everything we had into this game to try and get a win. The kids just battled and never gave up.”

With head coach Kevin Hoover temporarily sidelined due to a health scare, the Eagles’ three seniors – Rugar and Brady Kesterholt, along with Levi Hendrickson who has missed the season due to injury, led the way.

“The seniors really picked up the team and came up big,” Rose said.

Those three have been a staple on the gridiron, basketball court and diamond for the Eagles, as their outstanding high school athletic careers come to a close.

Iroquois scored four runs in the fourth to take its 7-0 advantage, but Youngsville was primed and able to battle all the way back.

They got on the board in the sixth, as the first of Rugar’s two triples brought in a pair and Jacob DeSimone followed with a sac fly to make it 7-3.

All of Youngsville’s runs in the sixth came with two outs.

Sam Hoover drew a bases loaded walk and Rugar came up next, clearing the bases with his second three-bagger to tie the game.

After a walk and a hit-by-pitch, Ethan Kerr put the finishing touches on the comeback, singling to right to bring in Rugar and Brett Sowa to make it 9-7.

DeSimone came in and earned the final three outs to notch the save.

“I told the kids to pick a person to play for,” Rose said. “It makes it a lot easier when you’re playing for someone.”

– – –

IROQUOIS (7)

J. Laniwicz 4-2-2-1, Messina 3-3-2-2, Z. Laniewicz 4-0-1-1, Barone 4-0-0-0, Alecci 3-0-2-2, Snyder 3-0-0-0, M. Jackula 3-0-0-0, Z. Jackula 1-0-0-0, Tarr 2-1-1–0, Gray 1-0-1-0, Visalle 1-1-1-0, Totals 29-7-10-6

YOUNGSVILLE (9)

Kesterholt 3-1-1-0, Hoover 3-2-1-1, Rugar 4-2-3-5, DeSimone 3-0-0-1, Mercado 3-0-1-0, Kerr 3-0-2-2, Miller 3-1-0-0, Curry 3-1-1-0, Wright 2-1-0-0, Totals 27-9-9-9

Iroquois 201 400 0 – 7

Youngsville 000 036 x – 9

3B – Rugar (Y) 2; WP – Rugar; LP – Tarr

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