Bartow outlasts rival Winter Haven in 11 innings

WINTER HAVEN — Bartow twice came back from a two-run deficit, then lost a one-run lead in the sixth, but the Yellow Jackets weren't going to be denied.

Getting stellar relief pitching from Rawley Stinson, and a clutch hit from Tyler Yates, Bartow survived an 11-inning marathon with a 9-5 victory over rival Winter Haven on Wednesday night in the Class 6A, Region 2 semifinals.

The victory puts Bartow (20-11) into the region championship game at Viera at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

"We made plays, and so did they," Bartow coach Daniel Payne said. "It was just a battle. That's why it took this long. The players want it. It's midnight, and they're still upbeat, they're still ready to win."

The game couldn't have ended with anymore drama.

Trailing by four runs in the bottom of the 11th, Winter Haven (15-11) loaded the bases with one out to bring the tying run to the plate.

"There is nothing that matches that, nothing," Stinson said. "Nothing is even close. That's the most intense thing I've ever been in."

Stinson, however, struck out two pinch-hitters, the final one on a 3-2 count to seal the victory.

"That was amazing," Stinson said. That was the greatest feeling in my life."

Stinson was brilliant in relief, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing just four hits with four strikeouts, three in the final inning, and three walks.

The Yellow Jackets needed such a performance on a night when ace Jonathan Vastine labored, allowing five runs on 11 hits in six innings.

"Whenever he is on the mound, we expect shutouts," Payne said. "It's unbelievable that this is the expectations. But, he didn't get it tonight against Winter Haven, so we saw some adversity. The guys responded with the adversity, and it was fantastic."

After loading the bases with one out in the ninth but failing to score, the Yellow Jackets finally got the clutch hits they needed.

The rally began on Garrett Allen's one-out single, and courtesy runner Johnnie Womble advanced to second on a passed ball.

Yates, who was 3-for-4 in the No. 9 hole, then ripped a double to the left-center gap to drive in Womble with the go-ahead run.

"I was just glad to put us ahead," Yates said. 

Bartow went on to load the bases, and Dalton Ogilvie gave his team some breathing room with a two-run single. The final run scored on  Ray McKinzy's sacrifice fly.

"We stuck together," Yates said. "We've been through this all year."

Winter Haven took a 2-0 lead in the second, but Bartow battled to tie the score with runs in the third and fourth.

Mason Jantomaso homered, and Owen Boyce singled home Mike Pasain, who had doubled, to again put Winter Haven up by two runs in the top of the fourth.

Bartow took its first lead with three runs in the sixth. McKinzy had an RBI single. Matt DelleDonne, who had reached base after getting hit by a pitch, scored on a passed ball, and McKinzy later scored the go-ahead run on an error.

Winter Haven put the first two runners on base in the sixth when Jalen Hairston walked, and Pasain singled.

Vastine nearly got out of the inning on a strikeout, then Hairston was caught in a rundown between home and third.

However, Tayler Burden reached on an error, allowing Pasain to score the tying run.

Until the the 11th, Winter Haven reliever Zach Lamb matched Stinson with a stellar relief effort. He allowed just four hits in the first 4 2/3 scoreless innings before Bartow got to him in the 11th.