Mariners walk off with tourney win

PALMER -- The Region III baseball tournament's single elimination format is about as forgiving as a vengeful ex-wife. The Palmer Moose found that out on Thursday.

Despite one of Palmer's finest outings of the season, the Moose saw their season come to an end with a 5-4 loss to rival Homer in the opening round of the tourney.

John Taylor spoiled all hopes of a Palmer upset over the third-seeded Mariners, with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Palmer relief pitcher Mike Carlson forced a full count on the Mariner outfielder, but Taylor took the sixth pitch he faced and drove it to right field. Scott Owen scored on the play to give Homer the one-run win.

Carlson relieved Palmer starter Jeremiah Heikes, who threw more than six strong innings for the Moose, midway through the bottom of the seventh.

"Jeremiah threw way over 100 pitches," Palmer head coach Steve Mossburgh said. "(Homer) had been through its lineup four or five times, so I thought they needed to see something different."

Heikes pitched consistently throughout the contest, only allowing multiple Mariners on base in two innings. Homer did its most damage in a three-run fourth.

"It really wasn't his fault. He threw a heck of game," Mossburgh said. "They hit a little dinker."

Casey Sickauier hit a bloop single in short centerfield and Aaron Gilbert hit a ground ball just out of the reach of Moose third baseman Jonas Dillbeck to spark the Mariner comeback.

Palmer jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, thanks to a pair of Homer errors. After David Doerr, Heikes and Ryan Carlson each drew walks to load the bases, Dillbeck smacked a groundball up the Homer infield. Gilbert, Homer's shortstop, bobbled the ball and committed a throwing error, allowing each of the three Palmer baserunners to score.

Joe Smith gave Palmer a 4-1 lead in the top of the third inning, with a single that scored J.C. Forrester.

The Moose finished the season 4-6, but Mossburgh's young squad made huge strides during the short season. During the 2004 opening weekend, Homer crushed Palmer 9-1, and Palmer ended the season with a near-upset of the Mariners.

"They played like they can play," Mossburgh said.