Walk-Off Balk Ends Terrific 7-6 Rockabillys Victory

JACKSON, Tenn.- In a return to Rockabillys Stadium, the Goats were staring defeat in the face. However, Jackson turned up the heat and the Thrillbillies couldn't stay in the kitchen, as the home team would rally and defeat Thrillville 7-6. 

Jackson didn't hold back any punches early, as the bell sounded and they were tossing haymakers. In the opening frame, after the first two hitters were retired, Drew Ripepi smoked a double into right center right before Drake Blackwood unleashed an opposite field bomb to give the Goats an early lead. 

Then in the second, with a two strike count and two outs, Gregory Berroa found the alley, plating Brooks Jones and Jake Maddox. With that hit, Berroa secured a six game hit streak, matching his total games played for the Rockabillys.

After this, Jackson became dormant offensively. A rotating door of Thrillbillies pitchers came in and stifled the home team. Brock Tapper did his best to hold off the Thrillville offense for as long as he could, however, his sixth inning of work would be his last, and the visitors solidified a lead. 

Running out of time, Jackson desperately needed to get off the mat, and they would thanks to a Maddox double in the eighth, scoring Blackwood. Now, knotted up at five entering the ninth, things got interesting quick. 

Thrillville managed a run against Jett Sutton, and Jackson was down to their final three outs, needing a run to keep the game alive. After an initial flyout, Berroa and Cade Miles would reach on hit-by-pitches, putting the winning run on first. A few pitches later, Ripepi lined a ball into center field, allowing Berroa to come across and Miles to go first-to-third. Now a tie game, something had to give with Blackwood at the dish. 

Thrillville's pitcher Bryce Nevils quickly came set on what was supposed to be the first pitch to Drake, and he forgot to come to a complete stop with his motion. The base umpire screamed a loud "balk" call, and all briefly went silent in confusion. However, after a moment of realization for everyone at Rockabillys Stadium, Miles walked home and the crowd went ballistic. The Goats had completed the comeback against their rival Thrillville in dramatic fashion. 

Goats Notes: The Goats have their Battle of the Billys game tonight at Rockabillys Stadium, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. After this scheduled scrimmage, which is a banana ball styled contest, the head out to Marion for a road set against Thrillville.