JUNCTION CITY - Junction City has had some memorable wins in its storied history.
On Thursday night, they added another, as Jack Smith belted a three-run, walk-off homer to cap a comeback from a five-run deficit to top El Dorado 7-6.
The Dragons trailed 6-1 going into the bottom of the fifth, but scored three runs to pull within 6-4, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
T.J. Bale drew a leadoff walk to start the seventh and Bryce Ware followed with a bloop single to center to put runners at first and second.
After Keelan Hodge advanced the runners a base each with a sacrifice bunt, Smith drilled an Austin Jobe offering over the fence in left to cap the Dragons’ comeback.
Smith’s home run made a winner of Hodge, who struck out four in two hitless innings in relief.
Bale, the Dragons’ starter, allowed seven hits and six runs over five innings of work. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out seven.
Shaun York racked up his fifth multi-hit game of the season by going 2-for-3 for the Wildcats, who scored twice in the third and three times in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead before the Dragons rallied.
Chase Webb had an RBI single and Jacob Boshears doubled home a run in the fourth for El Dorado.
Connor Black and Jared Rhodes also drove in runs while adding one hit each for the Wildcats with Derek Jobe and Austin Jobe adding one hit apiece.
Webb allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three.
Jobe took the loss, allowing three hits and three runs in two innings of work. He walked two and struck out two.
Bale had two singles, one of which drove in a run to highlight the Dragons’ three-run fifth.
Smith added a single to go with his home run, while Gabe Richard had a double and Hodge had a single.
Junction City will play two games on Friday.
The Dragons will play at Pangburn with the game slated to start at 3:30 p.m. before facing Tuckerman at 5:30 p.m.
El Dorado will be idle until next week when they try to defend their title at the Magnolia Ballin-n The Break Tournament.