The eight-inning contest was the third in three games this season for the Diamonds, who have now won two of those after coming back from a four-run deficit against the Wolverines.
"They're just the extra-inning boys I guess. It sure isn't any good on my nerves, but they never quit and that's what I like about them," said Sallisaw head coach Larry Coleman. "We don't have a lot of numbers, but they're learning to play together and we have some young kids who are stepping up and doing things."
The Black Diamonds had two freshmen and three sophomores in their starting line-up on Monday, but it was an upperclassman who delivered the game-winning hit for the second game in a row. Junior first baseman Tim Phillips, whose single lifted Sallisaw to a 5-4 win over Cameron last week, drove in Matt Oberste with a bases-loaded single to break a 6-6 tie against Vian in the bottom of the eighth.
Trey Wiley got the win on the mound for Sallisaw after taking over for fellow ninth-grader Oberste in the fifth inning. Wiley moved to 2-1 by striking out four, walking one and scattering three hits over four innings. Oberste was the starter, striking out four, walking two and allowing five hits.
"Our freshman pitchers threw well today. We've got a lot to look forward to with those two guys," said Coleman.
Vian, which was playing its first game of the season due to a deep run in the basketball playoffs, took a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning and threatened to blow the game open in the top of the seventh.
The Wolverines had Sallisaw on the ropes with the bases loaded and a 6-2 edge with one out. However, Tim Humpherys fielded a pair of fly balls in right field to get the Diamonds out of the inning.
"He hadn't been starting for us, but Damon Lynch was sick today and Humpherys stepped up and did a super job for us out there. Our whole outfield did a great job today," said Coleman.
The Diamonds scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to force the extra inning.
David Hadley started the rally with a double before stealing third base and scoring on a passed ball to make it 6-3. Tyler Sutherland stroked a double and Jake Seay drove him in with an RBI double off the left field wall. Phillips ripped an RBI single up the middle and Sallisaw pulled even on an RBI single from Matt Taylor. Taylor drove in Wiley, who scored on a close play at home plate to knot the score.
Wiley retired the Vian side in order in the top of the eighth. In the bottom half of the inning, Oberste smacked a stand-up double and moved to third on Sutherland's infield single. After Seay walked to load the bases, Phillips lined a well-hit ball that Vian shortstop Londell Taylor did well to knock down, but Oberste beat the throw to home plate for the winning run.
Phillips paced Sallisaw at the plate, batting 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Sutherland, a sophomore outfielder, also collected three hits, while Taylor, Trevor Prewett, Hadley and Oberste had two hits apiece. Junior infielder Seay had a hit and three RBIs while Wiley also had a base hit in the victory.
Vian was led at the plate by rightfielder Wes Carrington, who batted 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Senior catcher Jarrett Tyler went 2-for-3 and Taylor, Andy McEver, Mike Noeldner and Zach Randolph all had one hit each for the Wolverines.
Justus Christie was the starting pitcher for Vian. The senior right-hander struck out seven while working four innings.
Coleman said the comeback win was a big one for Sallisaw.
"This will do nothing but help us because Vian is a quality team year-in and year-out," said Coleman. "It's always good to go compete against those guys because they bring their 'A' game, they're well-coached and they've got some good athletes. We're tickled to death to get this win today."
