By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter
Up 3-2, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Woodstock Wasps baseball squad looked poised to continue its undefeated season last Saturday. But, in a torrential downpour, the Leland & Gray Rebels dashed those hopes and walked it off for a dramatic 4-3 win.
Saturday was a special day in Townshend, as the baseball and softball teams held their annual “Dingers for Dylan” event. The day featured two high school games, youth matchups, a home run derby, and other activities, with all proceeds benefiting the Dylan Landers Memorial Scholarship Fund. The meaning of the day was not lost on those who knew Landers and the town as a whole.
“My player Shane Lecours was his cousin,” said Leland & Gray head coach Tyler Francouer. “Today was a huge day for these guys and the whole community. Win or lose, it was going to be a good day. But to pull out a win like this, it’s almost poetic.”
The Rebels got on the board first in the bottom half of the opening frame, when an errant pick-off attempt from Woodstock pitcher Aksel Oates allowed a run to score. This lead did not last long, however.
The Wasps pushed across all three of their runs in the second inning to take the 3-1 lead, two of which came off a sacrifice fly from Grayson Hughes and a throwing error from Leland & Gray. The inning could’ve been much more, however, as Woodstock left its runners stranded with the bases loaded. “We need to be a little more aggressive at the plate and understanding of situational hitting,” said Wasps head coach Jason Tarleton. “This kid tended to throw back-to-back fastballs, and we should’ve been more ready for that.”
The kid in question was Rebel pitcher Ryder Butynski, who did not allow another run after the second inning, including a stretch of four straight one-two-three innings to keep his team in contention. “I had to change my mindset,” he said of what changed after the second. “I wasn’t being aggressive in those first two, and then I flipped a switch.” His coach had high praise. “Ryder is an absolute leader and to say it lightly, has that dog in him,” he said. “He fights hard, battles at all times, and will fight until the last breath.”
To his credit, Oates also pitched a gem on the mound. The Woodstock senior pitched all seven innings and accumulated six strikeouts despite the harsh weather. “He was mixing his pitches well and keeping them off balance,” said Tarleton on what his pitcher was doing well.
But, with two outs in the seventh and the bases empty, the rainstorm swelled to a crescendo and created chaos. Oates plunked two Rebels in a row. Then, the home squad read their opponent’s pick-off move to perfection, taking second and third base without a ball entering play. “With the conditions near the end, he lost the grip on his curveball, which dictates what pitches you select to throw,” said Tarleton. “I think that was ultimately an issue in the last inning.”
Standing ready to face him at home plate was his pitching counterpart, Butynski. “Before every swing I tell myself barrel, barrel, barrel,” he said, referring to the sweet spot on the bat. In a 3-2 count, with the game on the line, in his own words, he “finally caught one.” The pitcher shot a single into right field, which died in the wet grass and allowed two runs to cross home and give his team the 4-3 win. “It means a lot, especially today, to do it for Dylan,” he said.
The win boosted Leland & Gray to 6-1 on the year, and Francouer believes his team can keep this momentum rolling. “We’re going to keep going, keep playing our game, and the baseball will do the rest,” he said.
Woodstock’s first loss of the season put them at 5-1, but Tarleton did not fear the effect the defeat would have on his team. “They’re mentally tough, I’m not worried about them,” he said. “We’ll be ready to go Monday.”
And ready to go they were, as the Wasps traveled to Montpelier and picked up a 7-0 win to move their record to 6-1 on the season.
