Facing a 6-2 deficit heading into the fourth of six total innings, the odds of Century 21 American Realty hoisting the championship trophy looked bleak.
That changed when a barrage of hits swung the score -- and the odds -- in the team's favor. Off of those bats, Century 21 reeled in seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings, toppling Walker and Sons 9-6 to win the Poplar Bluff Parks Dept. Civic League Championship.
Walker and Sons got out to a quick start in the top of the first. After a single from Collin Settle, Jax Walker snuck a ball past the infield to bring the score 2-0. Century 21 responded. Scores from Beckett Baldwin and Chaz Love tied the game as it reached the second inning.
Landon Tesreau added to the Walker and Sons lead, scoring off of a Hayden Dees single. Century 21 went three up, three down -- giving way for a monstrous Walker and Sons third inning.
Settle started the half-inning off with a home run. Walker followed with a single, before Karson Dicken stepped up to bring him in with a double. Dicken scored and a quick three outs from Century 21 in the bottom of the inning brought Walker and Sons 6-2 lead into the fourth.
Braylen Lansford and Chaz Love grew nervous watching their opponents early success.
"I didn't know what to think, I just felt like it was over," said Lansford.
"I knew we still had a chance, Love said.
Century 21 coach Craig Lansford made a point to not let his team get too discouraged as their deficit increased.
"We play every game like it's our last one in order to prepare for this last (game)," Lansford said. "I just told them to never let their heads down and keep going."
Three consecutive outs from Walker and Sons in the top of the inning initiated Century 21's comeback. Love began the inning with a triple. Lansford brought in Love with a double of his own. After consecutive outs, a Gage Russell double scored Lansford from second. Century 21 chipped away at the lead, trailing 6-4 at the top of the fifth.
Another round of consecutive outs squarely placed the momentum in Century 21's hands. They took it and ran --or swung, rather.
Logan Keown's single began the stellar inning. Brock Campbell and Baldwin followed him up with consecutive doubles, scoring Keown. Another triple from Love scored Campbell and Baldwin. Then, a home run from Lansford completed the rally, pushing Century 21 out in front with a 9-6 lead.
"That was a big momentum change," coach Lansford said. "They made some great plays early on in the game The (Walker and Sons) double play early in the game killed our momentum early. Luckily, we just got our momentum going and our bats got hot."
Walker and Sons's final push in the top of the sixth inning faltered with its third-straight three up, three down.
After the final out, a group of yellow Century 21 shirts congregated along the third base line.
"It was awesome," Braylen Lansford said referencing the last out. "It just felt like...I don't even know," added Love. "We just wanted to play good and have good sportsmanship."
Century 21 may have captured the title, but both coaches felt the true joy of the season from coaching their young, talented players.
"Some of them show up at the beginning and you can tell they really never played," said Walker and Sons coach Jordan Walker. "Then to see them get their first hit and know how excited they are when they're on first base is indescribable."
"A few of these kids may not even have a father figure in their life," added Lansford. "So when you begin coaching you fill that role during the season and help teach them stuff that they've never known before."