RIPON — Brian Thomas yearned for the opportunity to come through with the game-winning hit for Ripon Christian, which scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun six-time defending Southern League champion Mariposa on Friday.
With the bases loaded, Thomas worked the count to 2-2 against Mariposa closer Joseph Freitas.
“I was looking for something I could smash,” Thomas said.
The pitch never came.
Freitas was instead called for a balk, allowing Michael Cummins to saunter home for the deciding run.
 “I didn’t get the chance, but a win’s a win, right?” Thomas said.
And what a win it was.
Ripon Christian (3-1, 10-3 overall), which shared the league title with Mariposa in 2012, avenged its heartbreaking loss from Wednesday when the Grizzlies (3-1, 5-3) scratched out three runsin the seventh to nip the Knights, 10-9.
“It’s been like this for years, it seems,” Ripon Christian coach John De Visser said of his team’s ever-growing rivalry with Mariposa. “Being on the wrong end on a couple of these this year, it’s nice to have one go our way finally.”
Dominic Darretta’s full-count, leadoff walk sparked the Knights’ comeback charge in the seventh. Connor McGovern walked two batters later, and with two outs Travis Vander Molen tagged a line-drive single to left to load the bases.
Cummins continued the rally with a two-run single on the first offering from Mariposa pitcher Jake Williams, who struck out seven but allowed four hits while walking seven and hitting two batters over 6 2/3 innings.
Cummins’ game plan was to swing at a first-pitch fastball. He guessed right.
“Baseball never changes,” he said. “It’s not any different just because we have a little heat on our neck, so I don’t change my mind set with anything going on.”
Freitas relieved Williams and nailed Jadon Vander Molen with his first pitch. Mike Fisher then drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Travis Vander Molen and set the stage for Thomas.
McGovern pitched six innings and struck out 10 in a no-decision. Willem Hoekstra gave up a run in the seventh but got the win. He was able to limit the damage after Dillon Mah’s single loaded the bases, inducing a flyball to center field by Brad Chambers.
“That was massive,” De Visser said. “That could have been 6-1 instead of 4-1. We kept it within reason.”
Ripon Christian couldn’t get much going offensively after landing the first blow in the opening inning. Hoekstra clobbered a two-out double and was followed by an RBI double from Travis Vander Molen. The Knights didn’t get another hit until the seventh but did leave the bases loaded in the third.
“The guys coming up in the seventh inning, that was their fourth time through (the order),” De Visser said. “It was just a matter of time before some of those balls start falling. That’s the thing, (the pitcher) gets tired and the more you see him you’re able to make the adjustment.”