Longhorns rally on two to put away Crenshaw in playoff doubleheader

A split was all but a foregone conclusion Thursday as Crenshaw led Marengo 9-5 with two outs in the seventh inning of game two of their AISA Class A second round playoff series. Cody Cobb stroked a two-run shot to narrow the gap and ignite a four-run rally to tie the game as the Longhorns went on to win 12-9 in nine innings.

Davis Petrey dealt what amounted to the decisive blow in the top of the ninth when he launched a two-run shot to give his team the lead in a three-run frame. Austin Day, who entered the game in the seventh, pitched the last three innings for the win.

“The thing about this team is they all root for each other. There’s no superstars on this team. They all root for each other,” Marengo Academy coach Woodie Beck said of the effort from his team. “I’m so proud of them.”

Marengo led 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth when Crenshaw blasted a two-out double for a 6-5 lead before stretching that advantage to 9-5 to set up the pivotal top of the seventh.

“They were gutsy. They made unbelievable plays and just robbed us all day,” Beck said of Crenshaw.

Marengo took the first game 7-0 on a scintillating outing from Meridian Community College signee David Dunn, who carried a perfect game into the seventh inning. Crenshaw dropped down a bunt single in the seventh to squash the quest for perfection. Dunn struck out seven in the game while throwing only 75 pitches.

Weldon Aydelott caught all 16 innings of the doubleheader and was one of five Longhorns to homer on the day along with Dunn, Petrey and Cobb. Day also hit his first ever homer.

Marengo (26-6) hosts the winner of Patrician and Chambers, who split Thursday. That semifinal series is set for Wednesday in Linden.