Walk-off win sends Hilltoppers to
regional championship
[May 28, 2026]
Aaron Volle smacked a single in the bottom of the ninth
inning and Luke Martin just kept running as Mount Pulaski beat the
Ridgeview Mustangs 3-2 on Wednesday evening.
In the words of Carter Clark, “We live to see another day!”
The walk-off win sends Mount Pulaski to the Class 1A regional
championship to be played this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Mount
Pulaski.
The Hilltoppers will play the winner of the Heyworth/Springfield
Lutheran game that takes place today at Veterans Park.
The Hilltoppers scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning
off Ridgeview starter Landon Ludwig. Chase Roberts was dealt a
lead-off walk and after two outs, Aaron Volle crushed a triple to
right to bring him home. Jaeden Jackson followed with a single to
left that scored Volle to give Mount Pulaski a 2-0 lead.
The Mustangs got on the board with a run in the top of the third
inning.
Mount Pulaski held the lead until the top of the sixth inning when
an RBI single by Cole Kennedy tied the game 2-2.
Luke Martin drew a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning but he
would be stranded at second when the inning ended, forcing
extra-innings.
The Mustangs singled in the top of the eighth and ninth innings, but
were never a real threat to score.
Mount Pulaski started the bottom of the ninth inning with two
groundouts. The next guy, Martin, walked. The next man up was Volle
and he settled in the batter’s box, ready for the moment. After
looking at strike one, Volle sent the next pitch right between the
gap at third and short. Martin had already taken off from first base
and he rounded second as the ball hit the outfield grass. Martin
motored into third with a head-first slide under the third baseman’s
glove. As the umpire signaled Martin was safe, the third baseman
quickly released the ball and fired it towards second in an attempt
to gun down Volle. The only problem was the ball took flight and was
air-mailed into centerfield. Martin saw this immediately and he got
up and ran towards home. The helmet flew in the air as Martin
stomped on home plate with the winning run.
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The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers pick up a postseason win over
Ridgeview. Photo by Teena Lowery
The rest of the Hilltoppers emerged from the dugout
to celebrate and they just kept cheering, “Let’s go, let’s go!”
Luke Martin earned the win for Mount Pulaski. Martin pitched the
last three innings, giving up two hits and zero runs. He walked one
and struck out three.
Carter Clark started the game for the Hilltoppers. Clark gave up two
hits and one unearned run. He walked one and struck out six.
Aaron Volle pitched the middle two innings, giving up two hits and
one unearned run. He struck out two batters.
Ludwig started the game for Ridgeview and he threw six innings. He
allowed four hits and two runs. He walked four and struck out ten.
Max Mason threw two and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and one
unearned run. He walked three and struck out five. Mason got the
loss.
Aaron Volle led Mount Pulaski at the plate with a two-hit game. He
was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.
Luke Martin, Jaeden Jackson and Carter Clark each had one hit.
Mount Pulaski takes a 21-11 record into the regional championship on
Saturday.
[Teena Lowery]
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