On Thursday, Apr. 14, the varsity baseball team defeated Cambridge Ringe and Latin 6-5 with an impressive full-count RBI by sophomore Keenan Sawada, driving in sophomore Ben Doctoroff to walk it off in extra innings. Despite a few errors early in the game, the Warrior’s persistence and teamwork led them to victory.

Brookline gained offensive momentum in the fifth inning with an impressive rally headed up by sophomore Connor Jernigan and sophomore Harrison Sigel who each had an RBI. Sigel’s line drive into right field ended Brookline’s 5-run offensive rally with Brookline and Cambridge tied up 5-5.

Senior Eli Roffman shut out Cambridge in the first two innings before giving up four runs in the third. Relievers junior Natey Kessler and sophomore Charlie Engleman closed out the game with only one run given up in the fifth.

Great pitching from both sides drove the game into extra innings, with excited fans urging the teams on from the sidelines despite the dismal New England weather. Engleman continued his impressive game in the top of the eighth, striking out two Cambridge hitters.

In the bottom of the eighth Cambridge walked Doctoroff and junior Ryan Kravitz with Doctoroff stealing second. Sawada then battled his way back from an 0-2 count with a full count shallow single to center fielder running in Doctoroff.

“It was crazy coming back from an 0-2 pitch and 3-2 full count, I was pretty calm at the moment and I just swung as hard as I could,” Sawada said.

Coach Brendan O’Connor, who was selected in 2020 as head coach for the high school’s varsity baseball program, said that the team played good defense throughout the game with the offense responding late to Cambridge.

“It was a very exciting game,” O’Connor said. “Our bats woke up a little late, and we were popping the ball up a lot, but we came through in the end. Our base running was awesome so we just put pressure on them at the bases and we had some clutch hitting at the end.”

O’Connor said that the game showcased the good team dynamics and spirit that enabled the Warriors to win in the end.

“This type of game showed a lot of character, coming from behind,” O’Connor said. “We went into extra innings, got out of a few jams, and had some great leadership by the captains and seniors.”