Johnston K’s 16 as Woodlawn gets walk-off win

STAR CITY — Last Friday at the Billy Bock Classic tournament, Woodlawn pitcher Gavin Johnston pitched six effective innings.

But it was the one inning that he was not effective and gave up four runs as White Hall beat the Bears in the semifinals 4-2. Woodlawn coach Tommy Richardson called that inning a mental hiccup.

On Friday, Johnston avoided the one-inning lapse and held Malvern to three hits as the Bears moved on to the semifinals in the Los Toritos Tournament with a 3-2 win.

“He didn’t have a hiccup (Friday),” Richardson said. “He was ready to go from the get-go, and that’s what we have to have from him every time. He is a great pitcher and does a great job.”

With the bases loaded and one out, Daniel Rissinger hit a fly ball to right field. It was deep enough to score Dillon Miller from third, giving Woodlawn (9-1) a 3-2 walk-off win.

“Their pitcher got behind in the count and left one up, and Rissinger did a good job putting on in play,” Richardson said.

Johnston went seven innings and gave up two runs — one earned — and walked one batter while striking out 16. Johnston said this game was a good way to forget his last start.

“I was just in the zone the whole time,” he said. “I just threw a lot of strikes and that’s what I needed after that last game coming off a tough loss.”

Malvern’s starter almost did as an effective of a job as Johnston, and it was enough to keep the game tied through six innings.

But Malvern pulled its starter and brought in a reliever in the bottom of the seventh inning. He ended up hitting Miller, who advanced to second on Johnston’s sacrifice bunt. Then Trey Hankins and Jacob Richardson were hit on back-to-back at bats, bringing up Rissinger.

Woodlawn scored its first two runs in the third inning. Blake Brown reached base to lead off the inning on a throwing error by the pitcher. He later scored on Miller’s RBI single and Johnston drove in Bret Boyd, who was hit by a pitch, on a sacrifice fly.

Malvern responded right away in the fourth inning. With two outs, Johnston walked a batter, who stole second. Malvern’s next hitter followed with an RBI single and he scored on a throwing error by Rissinger, Woodlawn’s catcher.

Richardson was not upset by the error, though.

“Our catcher made a good throw, but it was just a little high,” he said. “But hey, we are going to be aggressive and throw that ball next time the same way.”

The Bears only had two hits in the game, but drew five walks and were hit by six pitchers.

“We didn’t hit the ball, but that had a lot to do with their pitching,” Richardson said. “They did a good job, threw strikes and kept us off balance all night.

“We did what we could and kept hanging in there. Kept scratching and clawing and finally we got it done. That’s why the game is seven innings long.”

Woodlawn plays the winner of Pine Bluff and Monticello at 7 p.m. today.