By Dan Smith

Bryson Gandy roped a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Devan Suddith and give Charles Henderson High an exciting 6-5, come-from-behind win over Rehobeth Monday in a key Class 5A, Area 3 matchup in Troy.

Rehobeth had scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to take a 5-4 lead, and then brought in their hard-throwing right-hander Jack Knight to close the deal, but the Trojans battled to manufacture two runs.

Suddith led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single, and after Knight got two outs, Jabronski Williams had the at-bat of his season when he fouled off four pitches in a nine-pitch at-bat before cranking a double over the left-fielder’s head to score Suddith to knot the score at 5-5.

Gandy then followed by hitting a 2-2 pitch up the middle to score Suddith from second base and give the Trojans the 6-5 win.

“We battled, and we were relentless,” said CHHS Head Coach William Teal. “Rehobeth brought in their best pitcher with our seventh batter up, and he was able to get on base and get something done. Jabronski then had a great at-bat, and then hit a double to tie it up and Bryson followed with a big hit to score him.

“I trust my guys and love my guys. They battle. They just showed why we are 24-6. I’m proud of them. That is a huge win. We are one win away from winning area and hosting playoffs.”

Rehobeth took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when John Miller walked and Knight homered.

CHHS cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first when Williams and Nick Lewis singled and Williams scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Murphy.

The Trojans went ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the third as Gandy walked, Chase Hartley reached on an infield error to score Gandy, and Hartley scored on a single by Charlie Tisdale.

Rehobeth tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning as D.J. Law walked and scored on a sacrifice fly.

Lewis homered in the fifth to put the Trojans up 4-3, but Knight hit his second home run of the game in the sixth to tie the score at 4-4. Rehobeth went ahead 5-4 in the seventh when Aiden Raley walked and later scored on a single by Colton Knight, but the Trojans rallied in the bottom of the seventh for the win.

CHHS was led at the plate by Williams and Lewis with two hits each, while Gandy, Tisdale, Suddith and Eric Lee had one hit apiece.

Gandy pitched three innings for CHHS, with Grant Hughes pitching the last four innings to earn the win.

CHHS is scheduled to play at Rehobeth Thursday, but weather could move the game up to Wednesday.