Houghton Building Supply-Stanton starting pitcher Rob Brooks prepares to throw a pitch during a game against Garnet Garage Monday at Stanton Field. Stanton became the first team to beat Garnet Garage this season, 1-0. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

STANTON — With the tying run in the form of third baseman Gaborik Carlson standing just 90 feet from home plate with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Garnet Garage seemed poised to stave off their first loss of the Twilight League season. Instead, Will Romano hit a pop fly to Houghton Building Supply-Stanton’s player-coach Daron Durocher, ending the threat and the game, 1-0 for Stanton Monday night at Stanton Field.

For Daron, the win was a special one, because Stanton was able to execute things Monday night that they could not during the Leo Durocher Memorial Tournament just a couple of weeks ago.

“We played the bunt, right, which we didn’t do in the tournament,” he said. “So, we had the situation, we got the first guy not to bunt, and get them out on a pop up, or fly a ball, that didn’t advance them. That right there was huge. Then they bunt, and we played that bunt right, which we didn’t do in the tournament either.

“We know they’re going to do some things like that, and we executed this today. We executed. That’s all so good for us.”

Another reason the win carried special significance for Daron was that his son Joel had the game-winning hit in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Houghton Building Supply-Stanton’s Joel Durocher watches a ground ball during the first inning of a game against Garnet Garage Monday at Stanton Field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

The winning run was scored by Zach Geborkoff. He led off the inning making a slow trot to first base after Garnet Garage pitcher Coy Budweg hit him with a pitch. Geborkoff stole second before designated hitter Ian Raymond sacrificed to move him to third.

Joel stepped to the plate and nearly brought Geborkoff home with a long drive down the left field line that dropped foul just about five feet from the fence. A couple of pitches later, Joel launched a fly ball to right field that fell behind first baseman Chris Saari and in front of right fielder Eli Heathman, bringing Geborkoff home.

“I was impressed with the foul ball that landed 5-10 feet from being a home run down the line,” said Daron. “Then he came through with what he’s got to do, put the bat on the ball right there and find a way. He did excellent. (It was a) good building block for a 14 year old.”

With the win, Stanton improved to 4-3 on the season. While Joel has not been able to make every game, due to other obligations, his father is pleased with his progress in the games he has been able to make this summer.

“He’s got a handful of games (in),” said Daron. “(He) can’t play in every (game) because of Driver’s Ed, but he’s here when he’s here. He’s going to play and I led him off, not necessarily for that reason, but he’s not striking out a ton. He’s putting the ball in play and that’s what it takes, right?”

Other than the sixth inning, Budweg was dialed in for Garnet Garage (6-1). He had a no-hitter going until the bottom of the fifth inning. He only surrendered two hits over the course of six innings and he had no walks in the contest.

“Coy was excellent today,” Daron said. ‘We’re real fortunate to get that off of him. He was really good.”

For Stanton, starting pitcher Rob Brooks was nearly as strong. He had only three strikeouts over the five innings he pitched, but he held Garnet Garage’s bats at bay until the fourth inning, when he first walked center fielder Reed Heathman and then gave up a single to Carlson. Chris grounded out as the next batter, however, ending the threat.

Daron was proud of how Brooks battled his way through the contest.

“He was really good against them in the Durocher Tournament too,” Daron said. “He pitched a hell of a game there, and today he gave me five really strong innings. (He) throws everything at them, keeps them all off balance. (He is) such a gamer, really.”

Eli Louma stepped in and tossed the final two innings for Stanton, and he surrendered a single to shortstop Kade Farrell. Second baseman Kevin Bostwick then hit into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the scoring threat. Catcher Mike Saari walked, but Reed grounded out to end the inning.

UP NEXT

Stanton didn’t get much time to celebrate their win. They were back in action Tuesday night, facing an improved Craig Heinonen Coldwell Banker, a team that has been hot since their runner-up finish in the Durocher Tournament.