WALLINGFORD, PA — An upset-minded Springfield team gave Strath Haven all they could handle, but the Panthers were able to pull out a win in the tenth inning and boost their playoff resume as they look to be ready to host a first round game.

This came courtesy of one of the most exciting plays you can have in the game, the walk-off balk.

Springfield took the lead in the top of the first off Haven starter Caden Shuster. Nick Corse drew a walk to start the game, advanced to second on an error and third on a groundout. Pat O’Neill drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

Quinn Kell tied things up in the bottom of the second. His two-out, RBI single scored Max Kotzen and knotted things at one.

The tie would not hold for long and again, Pat O’Neill had a hand in Springfield getting on the board. He doubled to left with one out and Jake Lennon followed with a double of his own, putting the Cougars up 2-1.

We found ourselves in the middle of a very back-and-forth part of the game, as Strath Haven tied things right back up in the bottom of the third. Ben Milligan singled and Eli Price brought him home with a double to right.

Springfield got right back out to a lead in the top of the fourth. Max McGhee reached on an error and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. John Hopkins came through with a one-out single that got the Cougars back ahead 3-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kell picked up another RBI and tied the game again, setting us up for a marathon of a game.

Shuster reached on an error and Atticus Bean walked with one out. Both would advance on a wild pitch to set the table for Kell, who tied it at three with a groundout.

Things would stay where they were until the tenth inning. Both relievers, Jasper Hals for Strath Haven and TJ Valletti for Springfield, were lights out in some really high pressure innings.

After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the tenth, Strath Haven put together a threat of their own. Milligan was hit by a pitch, Price reached on an error, and Alex Selverian was intentionally walked with one out.

This brought up D’Ancona with a chance to win the game. His job was made pretty easy, as a balk allowed the winning run to score.

While it’s a bit anticlimactic, Strath Haven will take the win any day. The Panthers improve to 10-5 in the Central League and 10-7 overall. Not quite as dominant as they have been in recent years, but honestly very impressive to be 10-5 with D’Ancona not being able to pitch for most of the season.

With one league game remaining, they find themselves holding the eight seed in the District 1 5A tournament. That would give them a home game against Phoenixville if all things hold.

For now, there’s still more regular season baseball to play. Strath Haven wraps up league play at Marple on Monday before finishing the game on the road against Interboro. Even at 5-10 in the Central League, Marple is technically not out quite yet as Unionville is 6-10 in the last spot as of right now.

Springfield drops to 3-12 in league and 4-13 overall. They finish up their Central League slate at Harriton on Monday and wrap up their season with two non-league games, at home against Unionville and on the road against Sun Valley.