BASEBALL: Galatia eliminates Falcons in heartbreaking fashion

Galatia eliminated Elverado in heartbreaking fashion in Tuesday's Class A Baseball Regional in Dowell, winning 12-11 as a rally by the Falcons in the bottom of the eighth inning came up just short of a miraculous comeback.

The Falcons led 5-1 after one inning, bringing in runs on RBI hits from Nolan Waller (single), Austin Hester (two-run double) and Logan Cavitt (two-run single).

The Bearcats cut into the deficit in the top of the third, stroking three hits and drawing a walk and a hit batter to bring in three runs, then tied it up at 5-5 in the top of the fourth inning on three consecutive singles.

Elverado crept back in front in the bottom of the fourth when Waller drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Cavitt, who reached on a base hit.

Galatia got the lead in the sixth with a pair of runs, both coming with two outs. Three straight base hits chased EHS starter Alec Valerius from the mound and the Bearcats led 7-6.

It was 8-6 heading to the bottom of the seventh, when Elverado made a stand and was able to force extra innings. Gage Funk drew a one-out walk, Avery Caraker was hit by a pitch, then Cavitt singled for an RBI. Joe Ralph and Clayton Funk later walked during the game-tying rally.

Galatia appeared to put it away in the top of the eighth, using three hits, a walk, and an Elverado error to go up 12-9, but the Falcons had a bit of life left in them.

Zach Berner walked to start the bottom of the inning, Valerius singled, then Caraker drove in a run with a two-out single. Cavitt, who finished the game 4-for-4 with 5 RBIs, then doubled to bring in two more runs and put the tying run in scoring position, but the Bearcats were able to stop the EHS comeback there.

C. Funk (2-3, R, 2 BB), Waller (2-4, 2 RBI, BB), Berner (1-4, 2 R, BB), Valerius (1-5, 2 R), Hester (1-2, R, 2 RBI, 2B, BB) and Caraker (2-4, 2 R, RBI, HBP) also had hits for Elverado.

Galatia moves on to meet top-seeded Cobden in Wednesday's semifinals.