On Friday, March 21, the Archie Williams varsity baseball team (2-6-0) matched up against the Redwood High School Giants (3-4-1) at the Falcons’ home field. The game was close throughout, with the Falcons eventually winning in extra innings. The much-needed win ended their three-game losing streak and pushed the Falcons up one spot into 7th rank in the Marin County Athletic League rankings. 

In the first inning, both teams’ starting pitchers began the game strong, as both retired the first three batters in order. However, Redwood’s offense got on the board in the second inning, due to a wall-scraping solo home run off senior catcher Miles Harrison’s bat. The Falcons’ sophomore starting pitcher Kingston Weinberg was able to bounce back and struck out the next batter to end the inning, but the Falcons were unable to find an answer for the home run, going down 1-3.

In the third inning, the Giants strung together two hits and a walk with two outs to load the bases, but Kingston induced a harmless ground ball back to the mound, keeping the game scoreless. At the bottom of the inning, the Falcons’ offensive woes continued, as they were again unable to manage a baserunner. 

The fourth inning began with back-to-back singles from Redwood, but the Falcons’ defense again came through, and they turned a clutch double play to prevent any runs from crossing the plate. In the bottom of the inning, junior center fielder Jake Barnes drove a home run over the left centerfield wall, tying the score. The Falcons drew two walks in the inning but were unable to scratch across any more runs, leaving the game deadlocked at 1-1.

“I think it was just a momentum-changer,” said Archie Williams’ varsity baseball coach, Tyler Weeks. “It doesn’t seem like it’s a lot, but when you’re facing a team like Redwood, who can score runs at a whim, you sometimes get a little bit of pressure put on yourself.”

Redwood got the run right back in the fifth inning, when a Giants player singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, took third on a flyout, and scored on a groundout to Kingston. The Giants looked to make another hit with a line drive up the middle, but senior second baseman Jack Evans made a critical running catch. However, the Falcons’ offense remained slow, as three of four batters struck out, ending the inning 2-1 with the Giants in the lead.

The sixth inning started off solid for the Giants with one out single, and they manufactured a run when the Falcons failed to turn a tricky 5-4-3 double play. Both runners were safe after a dropped ball at second base, and the run came in on a ground out to third base. Kingston took control of the situation, striking out the next batter he faced to end the inning. 

“[Kingston] doesn’t let anything affect him at all out there,” said junior pitcher Wyatt Koenig. “It’s not at all surprising when he just goes to work after a setback.”

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Falcons’ offense finally clicked, and back-to-back hits from Jack and senior third baseman Henry Hanavan set up junior shortstop August Block with runners on second and third. August delivered a single off the left center field wall that brought Henry and Jack home, tying the game 3-3.

“It was the first time this season that we came back from down two runs, and it really put a charge into [the game], and created something special right there,” Weeks said.

Kingston remained in the game for the seventh inning and walked a batter with two outs, but was able to secure a strikeout to end the inning, screaming with enthusiasm when he did. Redwood brought in a new pitcher to pitch the bottom of the inning. Post gave up an infield single but battled to retire the Falcons on a groundout, followed by two flyouts to right field. 

Wyatt came in to pitch the top of the eighth and retired the Redwood side in order on two pop-outs and a ground out. In the bottom of the inning, August hit a first-pitch double into the right field gap and moved to third on a bloop single into right field from sophomore designated hitter Solomon Ojalvo. On a two-and-one count, senior outfielder Arlo Maury lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing August home to score the winner. 

“We were 1-4 in league, and we were really feeling a [win] today, we needed it for the standings,” Weeks said. “To get us back on the board 2-4 going into The Branson, Terra Linda, and San Rafael puts us in a great place, so it’s huge for the boys.”

The Falcons’ went on to beat the Sonoma Valley High School Dragons 4-1 Saturday, March 22, and their next game is Tuesday, March 25, at 4:30 p.m. against The Branson School Bulls. They are looking to use their win against Redwood as momentum and try to go on a good run across the rest of the season.