Kegel rallies over Topeka in the NAFA AA-Major World Series

The Topeka Toros congratulate Zane Siolo after he hit a three run homer that helped give the Toros a 5-0 lead over the Kegel Black nights in the NAFA AA-Major World Series. But Kegel battled back to beat Topeka 7-6 in eight innings. Photo By BOB OTTO

DES MOINES – The Kegel Black Knights needed an additional player for the NAFA AA-Major World Series, so they picked up Matt Darling. What a wise decision that turned out to be.

Batting leadoff, the right-side hitter blasted a solo home run deep over the left field fence giving the Black Knights a walk off 7-6 victory over the Topeka Toros in the bottom of the eighth inning, Friday afternoon.

“Darling was our pick up for the weekend,” said Kegel manager Jon Lewis. “He’s a patient hitter and nothing flusters him.”

The Toros jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning when they pounded out seven hits, highlighted by Zane Siolo’s three-run bomb over the left-field fence. Siolo batting in the number four spot also started in the circle.

The right-hander started well enough, giving up two harmless singles through two innings, but he hung a rise ball in the third inning to his pitching counterpart, Caleb Keshig, who sent it soaring over the right-centerfield fence for a three-run blast that pulled Kegel within two runs.

“I gave him a low rise ball right down the middle,” said Siolo. “We got up by five (runs) but let ourselves down more than they beat us.”

Siolo had to leave after the third inning because of getting hit on his knee in an earlier game, and was replaced by Josh Pettett. The right-hander didn’t start out well, walking the first two batters he faced. And he paid the price as Tom Owen drove in both runners with a double down the right field line to tie the game.

Topeka first baseman Chris Leaf beats Kegel’s Travis Dejong to the first base bag for the out. Leaf hit a home run for the Toros. Photo By BOB OTTO

After Topeka’s five run outburst, Sebastian Gervasutti replaced Keeshig in the fourth, and the right-hander from Bilbao, Spain was tough on Topeka the rest of the way. Outside of one mistake: a solo homer to first baseman Chris Leaf in the fifth that put the Toros back on top, 6-5.

But from then on, Gervasutti scattered three hits and struck out four to pick up the win.

“My only thought was to stop them and keep the game close,” Gervasutti said. “I know my team can come back. I wanted to hit my spots, and at first my drop ball was working and then later my riser. I got stronger at the end.”

The stat line shows that the Topeka outhit Kegel, 14 to 7, but a hit batter and two walks all came across to score for Kegel. Then in the seventh an infield error with two outs allowed Kyle Koterba to score the tying run from third base.

Koterba singled and reached third on an infield out and passed ball to knot the game at 6-6 and send it into the eighth where Darling won it.

Kegel now advances into the 11-team AA-Major semifinals Friday at 9:40 a.m where they will meet another team from the Fargo area – the West Fargo Knights.

The other semifinal has the Seattle Cal-State Builders taking on the A’s from Winterset, Iowa, also at 9:30.