It’s said patience is a virtue.

For Franklin Township Gray, patience helped produce a Carbon County Babe Ruth win.

Using 14 walks, along with some timely hitting, the Gray rallied twice to pull out a wild 17-16 walkoff victory over Franklin Township Maroon Thursday night at Christman Field.

“They didn’t give up,” said winning head coach Ron Steigerwalt. “They just did what we told them to do. Everybody contributed.

“(After the walks) we put the ball in play and that was a big part of the comeback that one inning. I think we batted around that inning.”

Trailing 8-5 heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Gray squad coupled a good eye at the plate and some Maroon wildness to work six straight free passes. That not only tied the score, but it set up a huge inning.

Josh Steigerwalt delivered a two-run single, while Elliot Ahner and Kieler Kemmerer added RBI hits. A couple of errors also produced runs during a nine-run explosion that ended with 14 men coming to the plate and a six-run lead.

“Walks killed us,” said Maroon mentor Jason Barndt. “I thought we might have been the better team, but the walks killed us, plus we made some errors. But we hit the ball well.”

Barndt’s club didn’t fold despite facing a 14-8 deficit.

Robert Dwojeski, Cameron Gable and Ian Rarick came through with back-to-back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the sixth. Later in the frame, Talan Sensinger belted a run-scoring double while Tyler Poole plated another run with a single up the middle.

Poole scored the eighth and final run of the sixth with a straight steal of home, putting the Maroon on top 16-14.

“It was a great game,” said Barndt. “It showed how much heart our team has. We came back and battled back ... That was an impressive inning.”

FT Gray also knows a thing or two about comebacks, and rallied yet again in the home sixth to pull out the win.

Once again, walks proved pivotal as three to start the inning loaded the bases.

A wild pitch chased home one run, and Carter Birnbaum’s groundout scored another to tie the game. Another wild pitch allowed Steigerwalt to scamper in with the game-winner.

“In the last game we played, it was a real good pitching matchup,” said Coach Steigerwalt. “Nobody hit that game. For some reason, it was rough for (the pitchers) tonight, but both teams fought hard the whole game.

“These kids have grown up playing together and it makes it extra special for them when they play amongst themselves. But on both teams, it’s a good bunch of kids.”

NIGHT AND DAY

... Like Coach Steigerwalt stated, the two teams played last week and the final was a 2-1 Maroon victory. In Thursday’s game, there were more runs (4) scored after the first inning.

HITTING STARS

... Rarick had four hits (triple, double, two singles), three runs and two RBIs for Maroon, while Sensinger finished with two hits and three runs. Dwojeski and Poole each added two hits and two runs. The Gray team received two hits, two runs and three RBIs from Steigerwalt, with Ahner (two hits), AJ Light (four runs), Birnbaum (three RBIs) and Jake Lewis (three runs, two RBIs) also contributing big games.

HAPPY TO PLAY

... Both coaches admitted that win or lose, their players are just thrilled to be playing. “They all couldn’t wait to come out and play,” said Steigerwalt. “We realize it’s hard for them with all they have to do, but they’re all handling it. I think they just want to be outside and have fun.” Brandt added, “The kids are extremely happy to be out and playing baseball. We’re having a lot of fun. Hopefully, we can continue right into fall ball after this. They’re having a blast now.”

FT Maroon 202 228 - 16 14 6

FT Gray 230 093 - 17 8 5

Sensinger, A. Greene (4), Brandt (5), Rarick (6) and Poole; Birnbaum, Light (5), Steigerwalt (6) and Balak, Albert (5). W - Steigerwalt. L - Rarick.