Zach Brown’s ninth inning walk-off home run gives Villa Park 5-4 win over Servite in Boras Classic

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Villa Park junior Zach Brown surprised even himself when he hit a ninth inning walk-off home run to beat beat Servite 5-4 in the first round of the Boras Classic on Wednesday.

“I’m not going to lie, that was one of the most unbelievable things I’ve done ever,” Brown said.

Brown, Villa Park’s cleanup hitter, was looking for a fastball when he came up to bat in the ninth with two outs and that’s what he got.

“That’s been the approach all year long,” he said. “I got it and thank god I made contact.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

Villa Park plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning forcing Servite to make a pitching change after starter Xavier Cardenas had faced only eight batters.

Brown hit a single to left field in the bottom of the first with runners on first and second base. Gavin Grahovac and Geoff McArthur each scored on the hit after Servite’s Trevor Schmidt made an error. Cardenas then was called for a balk, which scored the Spartans' third run.

Servite answered back in the top of the second inning though. After the Friars got one run across, junior Roman Martin hit a 3-RBI double to put Servite up 4-3.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Villa Park junior Andrew Grove hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at four.

In the top of the ninth inning, Servite had the bases loaded with no outs, but couldn’t get a run across. Villa Park junior Mason Miles came in in relief with the bases loaded and managed to get out of the jam thanks to forcing two Servite fly outs and then striking out Friar freshman Miles Scott.

“When Mason came in, really there was no stress,” Brown said. “I knew he was going to execute…What a performance from him. It was just as good as that home run.”

PROSPECT WATCH

Villa Park junior shortstop Gavin Grahovac is a top 10 prospect nationally in the 2023 class. He went 1-for-4 in the game with a single. He also scored a run.