Timely hitting gives Highland Post 439 a walk-off winner over Aviston

Justin and Nathan Terhaar have been big at the plate in big spots for the Highland Post 439 American Legion baseball team this summer.

On Thursday night, Justin Terhaar delivered in his biggest at bat to date.

Terhaar batted in the bottom of the ninth inning with two on and two out came up big, slicing an RBI-single to right field giving Highland a thrilling 3-2 walk-off extra inning win over the Aviston Express at Glik Park in Highland.

Highland, winners of heir last five straight games, improved to 11-5 with the victory.

Aviston grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Austin Thole walked and later scored off an error.

Post 439 tied it at 1-1 in the bottom if the second as Joey Kunz scored from third on Isaih Gruenfelder’s fielder’s choice grounder to second base.

The Express went back ahead in the top of the third on Jonathan Hussmann’s run-scoring single to center making it 2-1.

Highland retied it at 2-2 on the bottom of the fourth when Justin Terhaar led off with a single and scored on an error.

Both teams had chances to take the lead in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings but Aviston reliever Aiden Toennies and Highland reliever David Carroll kept the bats silent until the ninth inning.

In the top of the ninth, Lewis doubled to left center with two out to give Aviston a chance to take the lead. Carroll intentionally walked Hussmann and then induced a fly out to left field from Dan Kohrmann, killing the Express threat.

That set the stage for Justin Terhaar in the bottom of the ninth. Nathan Terhaar walked and stole second with one out. Carroll walked and Justin Terhaar sent the Post 439 bench into celebration mode, ripping a 2-0 pitch to right and scoring his brother Justin, giving Highland the walk-off win.

Aviston dropped to 13-3 with the loss.