VINCENNES — An 11-run hole in the fourth inning was not enough to bury the Edgewood Mustangs.

Terre Haute North Vigo appeared to be on the way to mercy rule high school baseball victory when Edgewood began collecting hit after hit after hit.

The Mustangs (1-0) scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning, 11 in the sixth and six in the seventh on the way to a wild 20-18 win Friday, March 29 at Vincennes University’s Jerry Blemker Field.

“These kids finally realized that we’re better than that,” said Edgewood coach Bob Jones. “The first few innings, we tried to hit the ball too hard and be too selective with our pitches. We told them, guys, if they throw you a first-pitch strike, go after it. Don’t sit and wait.”

Jones saw his team exhibit grit and drive after falling way behind.

“That’s the most I’ve ever been down and came back and won in my 30-some odd years of coaches. We’ve never done that. Before, we’ve almost thrown in the tent. Pack it up, let’s go home. “But these guys fought to the very end. This is something we have to use to build on: We don’t give up regardless of what the score is.”

The seven-inning contest played in intermittent rain was part of the Vincennes Lincoln tournament and took 3 hours, 38 minutes to complete. Wet weather caused changes in the event schedule.

North Vigo (0-2) piled up six runs in the second inning, five in the fourth, two in the sixth and five in the seventh.

“We did some good things early in the ball game,” said North Vigo coach Scott Lawson. “We pitched well and had a big inning. We talk about crooked numbers a lot. “Then the wheels just feel off. It was tough to watch for awhile.”

Lawson said he would not make excuses for his team.

“We have to make the routine plays,” said Lawson. “Sometimes you have to know when to put the ball in your pocket and not make the throw and another error.”

Both teams got contributions up and down the lineup.

The triumphant Mustangs used 13 players, including senior shortstop Joe Kido, junior catcher Harrison Pittsford, senior center fielder Ethan Vecrumba, senior third baseman Cooper Thacker, sophomore right fielder Coleman Sater, sophomore pitcher Luke Hayden, senior left fielder Blake Deckard, first baseman Tyler Marotz and junior second baseman Sam Kido plus senior Jordan Richey, juniors Schuyler Curtis and Logan Slabaugh and sophomore Kage Martin off the bench.

Deckard and Sater drove in three runs apiece while Pittsford and Slaybaugh plated two each. Joe Kido scored three runs. Hayden, Richey, Sam Kido, Slaybaugh and Thacker all took a turn on the mound.

The Patriots were also productive throughout a lineup which featured junior left fielder Kevin Beddow, senior center fielder Adam Craig, senior pitcher Tristan Elder, senior first baseman Ross Egger, senior right fielder Will Kelly, second baseman Cade Moore, junior third baseman Jordan Bradley, senior catcher Zane Latta and shortstop Matt Gauer with junior Gage Manuel and sophomore Jayson Cottrell appearing as reserves.

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