Oakton senior Colin Michael could not believe it.
Playing his first game at third base this season, the Cougars’ jack-of-all trades watched in horror as his throw towards second base sailed into the outfield, allowing two runs to score in the bottom of the sixth inning. What looked like a surprising Oakton victory against rival Madison in the Northern Region Tournament quarterfinals was now in jeopardy.
But Michael, who has played five different positions this season, got a chance at another one. He entered the game as a pitcher in the bottom of the seventh with Oakton clinging to a one-run lead and promptly shut the door on the top-ranked Warhawks for a 6-5 victory at Robinson.
The Cougars (17-6) advance to the region semifinals, where they face Langley at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Madison. Oakton sophomore Connor Madden returned to the lineup after a two-game suspension with an RBI single and several sparkling defensive plays at second base. Madison ends its season at 22-2.
“It means a lot to come through against them,” Michael said. “They’re our biggest rival and a great team and we did what it took to get the win.”
It was an emotional game for both teams after longtime Madison assistant coach Bobby Robeson was hospitalized before Friday’s first round game against West Springfield with a cerebral hemorrhage. Robeson, a retired physical education teacher at Thoreau Middle School in Vienna, is also best friends with Oakton coach Scott Rowland. Madison’s players wore Robeson’s name and number on their caps in his honor. He remains hospitalized in a coma.
“It’s been a tough week for everybody,” Rowland said. “That’s why this win means a lot. They do things the right way and I think we do, too.”
