GALT – With the bases loaded and the game knotted at one apiece, Kalvin Prins knew that this was his chance to do something big.

So he dug his foot into the batter’s box, tightened his grip around the handle and eyed the pitcher the way the 6-foot, 4-inch senior had done so many times before.

And he did end up with the eventual game-winning RBI in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving Ripon Christian (14-9-1) a 2-1 victory over Forest Lake Christian (12-7) Thursday at Galt Community Center.

It is the first postseason win for the Knights, who will move onto the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI semifinals.

Prins drove in the deciding run in non-conventional fashion, taking a pitch off of the helmet with the bases loaded. It was a unique twist in a battle of wills that had coach John De Visser excited about the turnout.

“The guys played well tonight and with confidence,” De Visser said. “A lot of guys played well for us all year and that showed tonight, but it was odd that the game-winning run came when a kid (Prins) got hit in the head.”

Colby DeVries started on the mound for the Knights and went 2 for 3 at the plate and added an RBI.

Chris Saenz finished 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.

The Knights will now take on the winner of the Bradshaw Christian-Le Grand game in a best-of-three semifinal series that starts Saturday.

With history already made, De Visser says that his team will focus their energy and their momentum forward as they prepare to take on their next opponent.

“I think that our pitching and our hitting and coming together right now,” De Visser said. “The guys seem loose as they head into this three-game series, and I think it’s something that they can shoulder. I’m proud of what they did today.”