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By Ron Smith

The hyphenated word 'walk-off' stirs excitement in the hearts of baseball fans. When paired with words like "home run" or "double" it stirs up images of a powerful man coming through in the clutch with a massive hit.

'Walk-off', however, can be paired with a lot of baseball terms and no matter which word or phrase it modifies, it always means the same thing – the home team fans leave the ballpark happy.

An unusual coupling of words occurred today at Russ Carr Field, instantly turning a day filled with plenty of frustration for Westmont Baseball fans to one of joy and elation for players and spectators alike.

After dropping the first game of a doubleheader with Bethesda (22-15) by a score of 4-2, the Warriors (27-7) were locked in a scoreless battle with the Flames in the second game. Scheduled for seven innings, the game remained without a single run through six innings of play.

Bethesda had a man on second in the top of the seventh inning. However, Warrior relief pitcher Sam Sheehan, who would eventually be credited with the win, struck out Daniel Gutierrez to retire the side.

Westmont's outlook brightened when Michael Stefanic and Alex Bush were each issued a free pass to first base to start the final scheduled frame. After a Flames' pitching change, Jarrett Costa laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Stefanic to third and Bush to second.

With one away, Derek Rodigo walked, loading the sacks with Warriors and brining up Graylin Derke. Derke struck out – adding to the tension and bringing Turner Conrad to the plate. After Conrad took the first pitch for a strike, Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz, who was calling signs from the third base coach's box, signaled Conrad to bunt.

Conrad's bunt rolled two-thirds down the third base line, staying just on the edge of the infield grass. By the time Flame's pitcher Braxton Ravello-Diaz got to the ball, there was no play to be made on Conrad's two-out, bases-loaded, walk-off bunt single.

There was no great display of power with this walk-off, but there was enough exhibition of skill, surprise and courage involved to fuel a jubilant celebration both on the field and in the stands.