Photo by Andrew Grimm Indian Creek's Ian Starkey and Sylus Hyde celebrate after scoring runs against Big Red on Friday at the Crimson Complex.

The Indian Creek baseball team trailed rival Big Red by one run going into the top of the sixth inning when the Redskins erupted for eight runs to rally for a 13-6 victory Friday evening at the Crimson Complex.

“I told the guys after the game how proud I was of them,” Indian Creek (3-0) head coach Mike Cottis said. “The momentum went back-and-forth during the game, and Steubenville had it at the time. We changed our approach at the plate late in the game, and it paid off for us. We had some young guys step up and get some big hits. We were lucky to come out on top.”

The victors collected six hits in the inning while also drawing four walks.

“We told the guys we were swinging at some bad pitches,” Cottis said. “We were swinging at pitches over our hands. Coach (John) Ziegler got the guys in the huddle, and he told them we needed to take better approaches at the plate. We came out and we worked the count. We were more selective. When we did swing that bat, we swung it at better pitches.”

Photo by Andrew Grimm Big Red's Nolan Blackburn delivers to an Indian Creek batter on Friday.

Indian Creek’s patience at the plate paid off in a big way in the inning.

“We gave them too many free bases,” first-year Big Red (3-2) head coach Justin Banks said. “I think we gave them eight free bases. That is tough to come back from. They put the ball in play where we weren’t. Indian Creek is a good team. They were able to take the momentum and run away with it.”

Gavin Pownall produced a memorable performance as the senior picked up the win in relief, had two hits, including a home run and three RBI, while also stealing a base.

“Gavin is a gamer,” Cottis said. “He was always that way in football. He has always been that way for us in the last four years. That leadoff home run was big for us. He did a great job on the mound. We always get nervous when we move him from shortstop because he is one of the best, but we had guys step up and make plays. Hunter Rusnak made some nice plays. Gavin has always been very reliable coming in in relief since he was a freshman.”

Pownall’s leadoff home run set the tone for Indian Creek.

Photo by Andrew Grimm Indian Creek's Sylus Hyde delivers a pitch against Big Red on Friday.

“I have to give Indian Creek credit,” Banks said. “They have a good program. Coach Cottis has those guys rolling right now. Gavin started the game with that home run and that set the tone. Our guys battled back. It was a good ballgame. I tip my hat to Indian Creek. Mike does a good job with them.”

Big Red answered right back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first to give them the momentum.

The visitors snatched the momentum back in the second as they tallied two runs to regain the lead before Big Red collected another run in the third to tie the score before plating their fourth run in the fifth to regain the lead at 4-3 only to see Indian Creek responded in a big way in the sixth.

The hosts plated two runs in the home half of the inning to pull within 11-6, but the visitors tallied two more runs in the seventh to seal the deal.

“Our guys fought,” Banks said. “Our guys fought hard. It’s early, and our guys stayed in the game the whole time. They never got down. They kept fighting. That is a testament to my kids. They fought until the end. I am happy to see that now, and I look forward to what is going to come later on in the year. I am glad our kids kept fighting.”

Photo by Andrew Grimm Big Red's Royal Mayo races home on a wild pitch to score a run on Friday.

Sylus Hyde started the game on the mound for Indian Creek, but he did not factor in the decision. Hyde struck out two and walked three in his 2 1/3 innings of work on the mound. He was replaced by Pownall with one out in the third. Pownall pitched the rest of the way recording the win for his team. Pownall struck out a pair without walking a batter in his 4 2/3 innings of relief work.

Big Red also used multiple pitchers as the hosts used four pitchers in the game, including three in the sixth inning.

Nolan Blackburn started on the hill, and he was saddled with the loss. Blackburn struck out three and walked one in his 5 1/3 innings of work. He was replaced with one out in the sixth by Jagger Rawson, who did not record an out while walking two. Rawson was replaced by Noah Kokiko, who was able to get the home team out of the inning. Kokiko struck out one while walking four in his 2/3 inning of work. He was replaced to start the top of the seventh by Chase Beall, who did not record a strikeout while walking one in his one inning of work on the mound.

The Redskins outhit Big Red, 12-7. Both teams tallied four-extra base hits in the game. Indian Creek collected two doubles, a triple and a home run, while Big Red delivered four doubles.

Offensively for Indian Creek, Hyde delivered three singles and four RBIs, Max Lane tallied a single, a double and three RBIs and Garrin Clark recorded a double and two RBIs. Also, Ian Starkey contributed a single and an RBI, Rusnak tripled, but was called out for missing first base, and James Brothers and Luke McVicker both chipped in with a base hit.

Photo by Andrew Grimm Indian Creek players celebrate with Gavin Pownall after he hit a leadoff homer against Big Red on Friday.

For Big Red, AJ Borsch belted a single and a two-run double, Mason Chmielorski contributed a two-run double and Blackburn collected an RBI double. Also, Royal Mayo doubled, and catcher Karson Simmons and Rawson each ended up with a base hit.

After Pownall’s home run gave Indian Creek an early 1-0 lead, Big Red answered right back and took a 2-1 lead on a two-run double by Borsch in the bottom of the inning. In the second, Clark recorded an RBI double to tie the score at 2 before Lane singled to left scoring Clark to regain the lead for the Redskins at 3-2.

Big Red knotted the score at 3 in the third when Blackburn belted a double to center scoring Mayo to even up the ballgame. Mayo led off the fifth with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cole Bowers before scoring on a wild pitch to regain the lead for the home team at 4-3.

Indian Creek sent 14 batters to the plate in its eight-run sixth inning.

Hyde, Brothers and McVickers recorded three-straight singles to start the inning. A force out at the plate resulted in the first out of the inning, however, Clark walked to bring in Kade Haines, who came in to run for Brothers, to even the score at 4-all. Lane then doubled to score McVicker and Logan Wedlake, who reached on the fielder’s choice to regain the lead for the Redskins at 6-4.

Photo by Andrew Grimm Big Red's AJ Borsch celebrates an RBI double against Indian Creek on Friday.

Clark extended the lead to 7-4 when he scored on a sacrifice bunt by Starkey before Lane and Starkey scored on a single by Pownall to extend Indian Creek’s advantage out to 9-4. After a Rusnak drew a walk, Pownall and Rusnak scored on a single by Hyde to make it an 11-4 ballgame.

Big Red plated a pair of runs to pull within five. Borsch and Simmons delivered back-to-back singles to start the inning before both runners scored on a double by Chmielorski to pull their team to within 11-6, however, Big Red was unable to get any closer.

The Redskins tacked on two more runs in the seventh as Lane and Starkey, both of whom walked, scored on a single by Hyde.

The meeting was the first between the two Jefferson County schools since Banks took over as head coach of his alma mater replacing Fred Heatherington, who retired.

“Coach Banks is a great guy,” Cottis said. “He is going to do a great job with them. A little known fact, his dad was my eighth grade football coach. Coach Banks comes from a great family. I am happy for him that he is getting his shot. He is going to do good things for them.”

The two teams are scheduled to meet again at 5 p.m. April 29 at John Muth Field.

“Indian Creek is in our division now,” Banks said. “This game was a nice blueprint to what we are going to have to do in the future.”

The two teams may also meet down the road in the postseason.

“I told our guys that our schedule will prepare us for May,” Banks said. “We want to play the best teams in the Valley and the best teams outside of the Valley. Our schedule is going to prepare us for the district, regionals and from there on after.”

It is always a big game when the two teams meet on the diamond.

“It is great anytime we play them,” Cottis said. “It is always a great atmosphere. There is always a great crowd. It was a well-played game on both sides. At the end of the day, they are all friends. It is nice to compete against each other. It is a nice way to get into Easter weekend.”

Big Red is scheduled to play Weir at noon Monday at home.

“We are doing OK,” Banks said. “I would like to see us do a little better job with our relief pitching. Are starting pitching is good, but we need to find a couple of guys to step up in that relief role. Our hitters are doing a good job. We are putting the ball in play, and we are putting it in play hard. Our hitters are doing a good job. We just need some pitchers to step up and match our hitters.”

Indian Creek is slated to play East Liverpool at 5 p.m. Monday at home.

“We have been battling the rain,” Cottis said. “It is nice we were able to get this one in today. It was a good day to play baseball. I am proud of how we played.”

Indian Creek 13, Big Red 6

Indian Creek 120 008 2 – 13 12 1

Big Red 201 012 0 – 6 7 1

INDIAN CREEK (3-0): Hyde ND (2 1/3IP, 2K, 3BB), Pownall WP (4 2/3IP, 2K, 0BB) and Rusnak and Brothers and Starkey. Pownall S, HR, 3RBI; Rusnak T; Hyde 3S, 4RBI; Brothers S; McVicker S; Clark D, 2RBI; Lane S, D, 3RBI; Starkey S, RBI.

BIG RED (3-2): Blackburn LP (5 1/3IP, 3K, 1BB), Rawson (0IP, 0K, 2BB), Kokiko (2/3IP, 1K, 4BB), Beall (1IP, 0K, 1BB) and Simmons. Mayo D; Blackburn D, RBI; Borsch S, D, 2RBI; Simmons S; Chmielorski D, 2RBI; Rawson S.