Don’t stop believing: Irmo believes for an extra inning six run comeback

Written by Tony J. Spain, Palmetto Examiner
August 21, 2025 

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (PE) -- After Irmo gave up five runs in the top of the seventh, Irmo manager Dave Bogan found his team down five runs facing elimination. What was his message? “Believe.”

“Believe,” said Bogan. “Believe, alright? Let’s go. We can hit this kid and we can hit him hard, let’s believe. O.K., let’s go!”

What happened next was, well, Irmolievable!  

Teams start with a runner on second in extra innings, so Palmer Steele is placed on second. Ethan Bennet walks. Sutton Gravelle hits a deep single to left. Steele Scores to make it 6-2. Bennet advances to second.

Braydon Gerard hits a double over the centerfielder’s head. Bennet scores to make it 6-3.

Bubba McQuilkin walks to load the bases with nobody out. Preston Ware walks Gravelle scores to make it 6-4.

Joe Giulietti strikes out. Brady Westbrook walks. Gerard scores to make it 6-5.

Then the manager’s son, Andrew Bogan hits a 2 run double off the tip of the glove of a fully extended diving Grayson Rehfeldt in right field for the 7-6 walk-off game winner.

South Dakota led most of the night after taking a 1-0 lead on a Bohde Larson sacrifice fly to center that scored Camden Tycz.

Irmo tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Jacob Gibson walked with the bases loaded to score Brady Westbrook which ended up sending the game to extra innings.

Irmo will play a rematch against Las Vegas in an elimination game tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Las Vegas won the earlier matchup 1-0.  

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About the Author: Tony Spain is a former candidate for Richland County Council 2020 and an award winning former military photographer and journalist while in the Public Affairs Office for the U.S. Army. His photos and writing have been published in numerous publications such as The Commercial News, Danville, Ill.; The Paraglide, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Soldier of Fortune Magazine; The State Newspaper, Columbia, S.C., and more.

He lives in Columbia, S.C.

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