JAY – Winthrop’s Dave Ricker doubled home Tyler Cobb with the winning run in the top of the ninth inning as the Ramblers rallied for a 7-5 triumph over Jay in both teams’ Mountain Valley Conference regular-season finale.

The three-hour contest started as a duel between starting pitchers Jake Steele of Winthrop and Shane LeFebvre. Each threw well, but neither was around for the finish.

“Both teams battled today,” Winthrop coach Marc Fortin said. “Jay had us frustrated earlier because it seemed as if what they tried was working for them, and at the same time we couldn’t get going.”

Winthrop (13-1) got its break when Cobb walked to lead off the ninth. Ricker then drove a James McLamb pitch to left field. The blinding sun fooled the Tigers’ Chewy Schmidt and the ball rolled to the fence. Cobb circled the bases easily, and Ricker scored on Riley Cobb’s fourth hit of the game.

“The first two times up I was popping up,” Ricker said. “I knew that I needed to sit back and wait.”

The Ramblers will play in the conference championship game this Saturday at Thomas College against an opponent to be determined.

“We are definitely ready for the playoffs,” Ricker said. “The team has continued to progress, and now every one has become stable with what we are trying to do.”

Jay (8-8) took a 4-1 lead after Ben Hebert singled and scored an unearned run in the fourth.

The Tigers, who will play a preliminary game next Tuesday, scored three runs in the third. Kyle DeMillo waked and Schmidt reached when a third strike hit the dirt. Rocky DeSanctis hit an RBI-double, Nick Bourassa had an RBI fielder’s choice and Mike Holland added an RBI-single.

“It has been Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde for us,” Jay coach Chris Bessey said. “We lost four games in the late innings against the top four teams in the conference and won four blowouts. Our record doesn’t show it, but we have proven that we can play with anybody.”

Winthrop regrouped to score three runs in the sixth to tie the score at four apiece. Ricker hit a solo home run and Jordan Conant reached on an error. Forrest Dwyer belted a two-run homer.

“We finally got things going in the sixth,” Fortin said. “I am surprised by Jay’s record, because they are well coached and gave us all we could handle. We saw two all-star catchers back there with Nick Bourassa and Jordan Conant.”

Both teams scored one run in the seventh. LeFebvre was the Tigers’ lone repeat hitter. Easton Morang struck out the side in the ninth to earn the save.